India May Soon Start Curing COVID-19 Cases With Experimental Blood Plasma Therapy

COVID-19 is taking a tighter grip in India day by day, even as medical authorities are tirelessly trying to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Today, India has over 9000 cases of infected people across the nation, with over 300 deaths.

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It is no news that there is no specific cure to COVID-19, and vaccines are still far away. However, according to a recent report by TOI, the Indian Council of Medical Research is looking to cure the novel coronavirus in a different way.

It is seeking participation in a controlled study to assess the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma to turn down complications caused by COVID-19.

Plasma transfer explained

In case you didn¡¯t know, convalescent plasma is essentially an experimental procedure for COVID-19 patients. In this procedure, the immunity power gained by a patient after recovery from COVID-19 is used in other infected patients to cure them.

ICMR has approved conduction of clinical trial for this method of treatment to see the kind of results it gives out. ICMR does mention that the trials must be conducted with adherence to protocols cleared by the Institutional Ethics Committee.

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ICMR said in an official statement, ¡°ICMR is inviting a letter of intent from institutions with the equipment and infrastructure available to participate in a clinical trial to study the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients, subsequent to necessary approvals and clearances. Institutions which are interested to collaborate with ICMR on undertaking this trial intervention may express their interest by providing the details,¡±

One of the first medical institutions to have received the approval for this trial is Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)

Drawing blood from a cured COVID-19 patient

The process isn¡¯t as simple as it sounds. There are a few things before plasma is collected from a recovered COVID-19 patient.

According to Dr Asha Kishore, Director at SCTIMST, in a conversation with India Science Wire, ¡°Potential donor would be examined before the blood serum is extracted and given to a sick person. First, the swab test must be negative and the potential donor has to be declared as cured.¡±

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She further added, ¡°Then the recovered person has to wait for two weeks. Or else the potential donor should be asymptomatic for at least 28 days. Either of the two is mandatory¡±

Efficacy of the procedure

While the efficacy of the procedure is yet to be determined, According to Dr Kishore, a similar treatment was administered during 2010 H1N1 flu and patients did show a considerable sigh of improvement. It was also proven useful during the Ebola outbreak of 2018.

Speaking about the process¡¯s safety, Kishore said, ¡°Just as we do in case of blood donation one has to look for the blood groups and Rh compatibility. Only people whose blood group matches can donate or receive blood.¡±

She added, ¡°The donor will be stringently examined and tested for certain mandatory factors before they will be permitted to donate the blood. They will undergo tests for hepatitis, HIV, malaria, and so on to ensure that they do not pass on a different pathogen to the receiver¡±