UP’s first plasma bank to fight Covid comes up at KGMU

LUCKNOW: UP’s first plasma bank got functional at King George’s Medical University in the city on Saturday. The move will aid the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

In northern India, this is the fifth plasma bank. States of Delhi and Punjab have two each. The bank will also extend services to patients in need anywhere in UP.
The facility was inaugurated by governor Anandiben Patel in a virtual ceremony. Though not a definitive treatment, plasma therapy has helped in saving many lives.
In this, the plasma of a Covid-19 recovered person – which contains the antibodies against the virus -- is collected and transfused into the patient under treatment.
Urging people who have recovered from Covid-19 to come forward and donate plasma, vice-chancellor, KGMU Prof (Lt Gen retd) Vipin Puri said: “The vaccine for coronavirus infection is not available while plasma therapy is a ray of hope for many. Donors have the opportunity to save a life without losing anything.”
He added that the bank has been made under the supervision of the best agencies in the country and was state of the art in quality. KGMU has five machines for extraction of plasma from eligible donors.
Head of transfusion medicine department, Prof Tulika Chandra said: “The bank will provide a platform where the willing to donate besides serving as a collection point for those in need.”
Dr Chandra said that not everyone is eligible to donate plasma. “Every recovered patient is screened for the required antibodies. Then the sample is tested against a host of parameters like HCV, HIV, basic blood profile among other things. Thereafter, the plasma is drawn from the person,” she said.
She said that a person can donate upto 500 ml of plasma which is saved in 200 ml units at a temperature of minus 80 degree Celsius. She underscored that a patient does not lose on red blood cells or platelets or the Covid fighting antibodies in the process.
Those willing may contact the WhatsApp helpline number 9415761773 started for the purpose