UW Health in Madison announced Monday it will begin using COVID-19 survivor plasma for use in patients sick with the disease. The UW trial is part of a nationwide effort to begin clinical trials testing the effectiveness of the plasma treatment. Researchers believe that plasma of recovered patients should be rich in virus-fighting antibodies. The receiving patients could receive a jump-start to their immune systems.
Last week, UW Health and UW School of Medicine and Public Health joined Johns Hopkins University in the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project, a grass-roots effort that involves 40 large hospitals and institutions, plus Amazon, Federal Express, the American Red Cross and the New York Blood Center.
In Madison, Exact Sciences has agreed to provide the COVID-19 tests required for all potential donors. The local Red Cross will be taking, processing and delivering the plasma donations to University Hospital.
William Hartman, an anesthesiologist at UW Health is leading the effort in Madison, said recovered COVID-19 patients can arrange to donate their plasma by calling 608-262-8300 or toll-free 833-306-0681 or emailing uwcovid19project@hslc.wisc.edu.