Can you help COVID-19 patients?

The NHS needs to locate people who’ve recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19) asking them to donate blood plasma, as part of a potential clinical trial to help with the national effort against the virus.

The trial, if approved, will tell us how effective convalescent plasma (plasma from people who’ve had coronavirus) is for treating coronavirus patients.

How you can help

If you have had a positive test result for COVID-19, or have had symptoms of COVID-19, you can help us by registering to donate plasma at one of our main donor centres.

Not everyone will be able to donate. You need to meet some eligibility criteria:

• be between 17 and 66 years old
• weigh between 50kg and 158kg
• not be pregnant, or had a baby, miscarriage or termination within six months
• not have an existing or previous heart condition
• not have had a transfusion since 1st January 1980.

Register your details

We will be in contact over the coming weeks around any next steps. Acceptance to donate will depend on the form and follow-up contacts before donation.

What is convalescent plasma?

Blood plasma is a yellowish liquid that makes up about half your blood volume. After a virus, your plasma contains antibodies that are used to help fight infection.

Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of someone who has recovered from a virus, in this case COVID-19.

Who can donate convalescent plasma?

Convalescent plasma can only be donated by someone who has had the virus. It is also important that donors have fully recovered from COVID-19, and that their body has had time to develop a good antibody response.

We are currently collecting plasma no sooner than 28 days after recovery and can only accept donations from people who live in England.

Donating plasma

Any donations will take place at one of our main donor centres (see below).

Plasma donation is not the same as blood donation. The process takes around 45 minutes because it separates plasma from the blood as you donate, in a process called apheresis.

We will discuss the details of your donation before you take part. 

The nearest donor centres are at:

• Manchester Plymouth Grove
• Manchester City Centre