Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Patients with COVID-19
Responding to the unprecedented challenge fighting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Government is supporting a national Expanded Treatment Protocol to collect and provide convalescent plasma to patients in need across the country. Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients contains antibodies that may help fight the disease. St. Joseph Hospital is a participating center for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COVID-19 convalescent plasma patient access program in conjunction with Mayo Clinic servicing as a central institutional review board (IRB).
For Potential Donors
Thank you for your interest in the convalescent plasma donor program. All plasma donations are handled through the Red Cross. The Red Cross has been asked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help identify prospective donors and manage the distribution of these products to hospitals treating patients in need. If you’re fully recovered from a verified coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis, please review the information in this link and fill out the Potential Donor form. A Red Cross representative will follow up with prospective candidates to confirm eligibility.
For Patients/Families
If you want to know if you or a family member are eligible for this treatment, discuss this protocol with your (or your family member’s) treating physician and ask them to review the criteria at uscovidplasma.org to determine eligibility. If you or your family member meets eligibility criteria, the physician and hospital should register as a site and treating physician at uscovidplasma.org. As available, plasma will be delivered to your hospital blood bank, which will be responsible for preparing it for administration to you or your consented relative.
For Physicians/Hospitals
Working collaboratively with industry, academic, and government partners, Mayo Clinic serves as the lead institution for the program, registering participating providers and potential patients who may benefit and qualify for this investigational treatment. This treatment protocol requires that physicians register their institution, themselves and potential patients in Mayo Clinic's database in order to obtain access to convalescent plasma for their patients. You can find out more about physician/hospital participation at uscovidplasma.org.
