Coliseum Medical Centers announced yesterday that it has transfused donated blood plasma from fully recovered COVID-19 patients into two critically ill patients. The clinical transfusions took place as part of a national study to determine if the plasma from convalescent, or recovered, COVID-19 patients may benefit individuals currently hospitalized with severe or life-threatening cases of the virus.

“Coliseum Medical Centers and more than 170 hospitals from across HCA Healthcare are coming together as part of bigger study to identify potential therapies for the patients who need it most in our communities,” says Jennifer Hoffman, MD. “It is our hope that the plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients will help individuals who are currently facing severe cases of the virus.”

The clinical transfusions occurred when physician specialists at Coliseum Medical Centers received donated blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors and transfused it into two critically ill COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Coliseum Medical Centers.

After someone is infected with a virus like COVID-19 and recovers, their blood contains antibodies that their immune system produced to help them fight off the virus. By infusing this plasma into patients who are facing severe cases of COVID-19, their immune system might more effectively be able to fight the virus. While convalescent serum therapy has shown to be successful in treating previous coronaviruses, additional clinical data – and more plasma donations – are needed to determine efficacy in treating COVID-19.

Coliseum Health System is continuing to seek eligible volunteers from middle Georgia to donate plasma through the American Red Cross or another local donation center. To find out more about the donation process, eligibility and locations to donate in middle Georgia, please call our dedicated COVID-19 Plasma Phone Line at (833) 582-1971 or visit our web site: https://hcahealthcare.com/covid-19/latest-updates/plasma-donations.dot .

Coliseum Health System is a part of a research network across HCA Healthcare and Sarah Cannon that is working to identify effective COVID-19 treatment solutions through various study offerings {https://hcatodayblog.com/2020/04/23/hca-healthcare-joins-plasma-study-in-fight-against-covid-19/} for patients and communities impacted by the pandemic.