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Peru: Essalud begins plasma investigation of recovered patients for ha

EsSalud reported that it started the exploratory stage for the use of convalescent plasma in patients who have overcome COVID-19, with the aim of finding a possible cure for this disease.

According to the EsSalud statement, the research protocol for the use of this technique was approved by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) and will be developed by specialists from the Transfusion Medicine Service (Blood Bank) and the clinical area of ​​the Edgardo hospital. Rebagliati.

“This technique, which has already been applied in other pandemics, consists of transfusing plasma from the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19 to patients infected with the virus,” said Dr. Arturo Sagástegui, head of the hospital’s Blood Bank. Rebagliati.

The specialist explained that when a person contracts a virus, such as COVID-19, their immune system creates antibodies in the plasma to fight the virus. Plasma with these infection-fighting antibodies is called “convalescent plasma.”

“Although we have not yet found a cure for COVID-19, this study will assess whether the use of convalescent plasma works and has an effect on the recovery of the infected patient. It will be applied in people who show signs of disease progression in order to avoid complications, “she said.

The research protocol for the use of plasma transfusion from a convalescent patient to a COVID-19 positive patient has been designed by a group of doctors from the Edgardo Rebagliati hospital and researchers from the Institute for the Evaluation of Technologies in Health and Research (IETSI), with resolution of the Ethics Committee of the National Institute of Health (INS).

EsSalud indicated that the project has recently been selected by the Concytec National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development, an entity that will finance the development of the research.

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The specialist indicated that the Edgardo Rebagliati hospital has been calling patients who had COVID-19 and overcome the disease so that they can donate blood and thus obtain the plasma that will be used in research.

He stressed that the eligible donor must be fully recovered and symptom-free for 28 days. Before the plasma is withdrawn, the donor undergoes a molecular diagnostic test from a nasa / pharyngeal swab to verify that it has already passed the phase in which it may be contagious.

In addition, blood samples are taken to check that you have developed antibodies against the virus.

He said that once the blood has been collected, the convalescent plasma is separated and transfused into an infected patient who is hospitalized, which provides a boost to the immune system and can help speed up the recovery process.

“If you have recovered from COVID-19, you can donate your plasma, for research that could help other patients, who are battling the virus, to recover,” he said.

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