Donating your plasma for use after you have recovered from COVID-19 is worth considering. At present you may only be accepted if you have had a positive test and not if you have had a similar illness in the past few months.
When a reliable antibody test becomes available, then we will be able to tell who has previously had the infection. (I will post separately when that testing becomes available.)
Where to donate in Colorado?
- Red Cross. Here is the special page for submitting your request to donate plasma.
- Children’s Hospital. Here is their page.
- Vitalant (previously Bonfils). Here’s their page.
Dr. Gipson
Dr. Gipson, if you have a relative that has recovered from the virus and wishes to donate their plasma, where do they go that will also agree to take the plasma from that person so as to benefit another family member…and how long will “removed plasma” last once extracted and waiting for reuse within someone else? Please advise. David A.
That person would have to show proof of a positive test to the blood bank in their area that was accepting convalescent plasma.
I do not know if that person can specify who at present or in the future would receive that plasma. The blood bank would be able to answer that question easily.
I also don’t know how long plasma lasts. Again the blood bank should be easily able to answer that question.