Blood from recovered Covid-19 patients in Wales is being used to help those fighting virus

The blood of people in Wales who have recovered from coronavirus is being used to treat current sufferers.

Blood is being taken from people who previously had Covid-19, so that a part of the blood known as "convalescent plasma" can be used to help current suffers to beat the virus.

The Welsh Government has said that the country is taking a "leading role" in using the process to help patients fight the virus.

A spokesman said: "Non Covid-19 plasma has been used daily in NHS Wales for a variety of needs for many years.

"Covid-19 convalescent plasma will help patients develop immunity as it ‘transfuses’ antibodies against the virus, helping the receiving individual fight infection.

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"Recovered patients are being invited by letter, if eligible, to donate blood to the scheme."

In Wales, the plasma collected will be made available to medics for coronavirus patients, for example through participation in clinical trials.

Public Health Wales will identify and write to potential donors who have a confirmed Covid-19 positive test result and are eligible.

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The plasma will be collected and processed by the Welsh Blood Service.

Health minister Vaughan Gething, said: “It’s brilliant to see Wales is playing a leading role on this project which has the potential to significantly improve patient recovery and save lives.

"We will be capturing all outcomes and feeding into the UK and worldwide learning on the use of this technology.”

Donors must be fully recovered before donating and virus free.

For these reasons plasma will normally be collected no sooner than 28 days after recovery.

Dr Gill Richardson, senior professional advisor to the Chief Medical Office in Wales, said: “Convalescent plasma is plasma that is collected from patients who have recovered from disease, in this case Covid-19.