COVID-19 convalescent plasma product: Harvesting plasma from single unit whole blood, a cost effective alternative to plasmapheresis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people from almost all parts of the world. There is no specific pharmaceutical drug available. So also, there is no vaccine developed as yet. In the circumstance, the passive immunity imparted by the preformed antibody in the plasma from the convalescing patient could be a useful approach. COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) can be collected by an automated apheresis device. However, the preparation becomes expensive, and average blood banks cannot afford to establish infrastructure in terms of machine and material requirements. The recommended dose of 200 mL of CCP for the treatment of a patient can easily be met from a single whole blood unit by any blood bank with the facility of blood component separation. This approach can significantly reduce the cost of the treatment to the patient with COVID-19.