Second wave: Plasma therapy in high demand again due to surge in cases

Plasma banks in Bengaluru say they are getting around 50 requests every day since last three weeks ; affected families scouting for donors

Even as the debate over the effectiveness of plasma therapy continues, the demand for the therapy is rising with the rapid surge in cases during the second wave in Karnataka. Several hospitals in the city are prescribing plasma therapy and affected families are literally scouting for plasma donors. Plasma banks in the city said they are getting around 50 requests for plasma every day since the last three weeks. Most private hospital blood banks authorised to take up plasma therapy in the city said there are not enough eligible donors. “With waning immunity among those who have recovered from COVID-19 and the requirement that donors should have high antibody titres apart from other prescribed eligibility criteria, there are not enough fresh donors. There is an urgent need to mobilise fresh plasma donors,” said U.S. Vishal Rao, who heads the State-supported HCG plasma bank.