Heartbeat: Doctor donates plasma to help blast COVID-19

June 30, 2020

After recovering from COVID-19, Dr Zahid Sarfraz, one of our A&E doctors at Sandwell Hospital, has donated his plasma to help in the quest to develop a potential treatment to try and overcome the illness.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) are leading a programme to collect convalescent plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to support a national clinical trial. The trial will investigate whether plasma transfusions could improve a COVID-19 patient’s speed of recovery and chances of survival.

Convalescent plasma is taken from people who have recovered from an infection. Recovered patients’ plasma may contain antibodies that their immune systems have produced in fighting the virus. That plasma can be transfused to patients whose immune systems are struggling to develop their own antibodies.

Although there is some evidence of patient benefit from the use of convalescent plasma, the safety and effectiveness of convalescent plasma transfusions needs to be confirmed by a robust clinical trial.

Speaking of his experience, Dr Sarfraz told us: “Initially I had a headache and aches, later I developed a high fever and sore throat. The week spent sick in bed in isolation was tough. Luckily, I recovered and, I am back working alongside my colleagues to try and overcome this virus that has impacted so many people.”

He added: “Everybody has been playing their part. I am hoping that by donating plasma I can help too, plus it’s easy to donate. NHSBT primarily contact potential convalescent plasma donors directly. It is important that potential donors have recovered and that they have had time to develop a good antibody response. If people have a confirmed positive test result and they are willing to donate, they can also provide details via a form on the NHSBT website at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.”