Challenges Faced by Blood Transfusion Services for Recruitment of Convalescent Plasma Donors for COVID-19 Disease in a Tertiary Care Centre in North West India

Abstract

In growing infectious disease epidemics, transfusion of convalescent blood products is an age-old therapeutic. Convalescent plasma works on the premise of Viral Neutralization and Passive Immunotherapy during the current corona virus pandemic (COVID-19). Additionally, anti-inflammatory cytokines, defensins, pentraxins and other immunomodulatory proteins may have a role in alleviating systemic inflammatory response syndrome, the main pathophysiological basis for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and mortality from COVID-19 pneumonia convalescent plasma transfusions may have therapeutic role as there is no specific preventative and therapeutic options. This study was done to see the challenges faced by blood transfusion services for recruitment of convalescent plasma donors. The retrospective study looked at the obstacles blood transfusion facilities faced in obtaining donors for COVID-19 convalescent plasma and the techniques they used to improve donation rates. This study evaluated: 1. Challenges faced to recruit the recently recovered COVID-19 patients as CCP donors, 2. Setting up of plasmapheresis capacity, 3. Role of social media in recruitment of Convalescent plasma donors, 4. Financial aspects associated with Convalescent plasma donation , 5. Role of NGOs in recruitment of donors, and 6.Success achieved in organization of donor mobilization and plasma collection. Blood transfusion facilities face a significant issue in recruiting Convalescent Plasma donors from COVID-19 recovered patients. Personnel communication, advertisement via traditional mass media such as radio, posters, newspapers, and online social media should all be used to motivate donations.