Thousands of people agree to donate blood plasma after testing positive for coronavirus

A major trial is ongoing to assess whether convalescent plasma donations can be transfused into patients who are struggling to develop their own immune response.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which is collecting the plasma for the trial, said people confirmed with the virus through the "Pillar 2" national testing programme will receive a text message 21 days after their result to see whether they are willing to donate plasma.

The text messaging service started this week and saw more than 10,000 people enrol in the trial.

Texts were sent to 65,000 people on Monday and Tuesday, which directed them to a link and a web form where they could volunteer to donate.

Over the last two days, 10,370 people completed the form, bringing the total so far to 82,091, NHSBT said.

The texts will now be sent on a weekly basis to anyone who tests positive through the national testing programme. People will receive them 21 days after their result.

An NHSBT spokesman said: "We thank everyone who beat Covid-19 who got a text and is now offering to donate convalescent plasma.

"We particularly want to hear from recovered people who are men, or who are aged over 35, or who needed hospital treatment.

"People falling into one of these three categories are likely to have higher antibody levels which means their plasma is more likely to be able to save lives."

The plasma from former patients is rich in the antibodies that develop as a person recovers from an illness.

It is transfused into people who are seriously ill with Covid-19 and struggling to develop their own antibodies.

If the trial is successful, being treated with convalescent plasma could become a widespread practice in hospitals.

Early analysis from the trial found that people from Asian communities who have recovered from Covid-19 are more likely to have the antibody-rich convalescent plasma which can save lives.

New figures, reported into the programme last week, showed the Asian convalescent plasma donors were almost twice as likely to have high antibody levels as white donors - 63% of Asian donors met the threshold, compared to 36% of white donors.

- Anyone who has had coronavirus or the symptoms and lives near a donor centre can offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visiting www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.

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