NCBB Calls for Convalescent Plasma Donations from Recovered COVID-19 Patients

Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB; ncbb.org) is calling for individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood plasma to help treat other patients with advanced illness. NCBB started collecting convalescent plasma at its Omaha donor center (12100 Pacific Ave.) on May 12, in addition to ongoing collection at its 84th Street donor center in Lincoln.

NCBB will collect and process the plasma for infusion and maintain a bank for hospitals to treat patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections. NCBB supplies blood components to over 20 hospitals and health care facilities throughout Nebraska and western Iowa, including Bryan Health and Methodist Health System.

During convalescent plasma treatment, the patient is transfused with the donor’s plasma with the goal of using the donor’s antibodies to help clear the virus more rapidly and help decrease the need for ICU beds and ventilators. Through NCBB’s partnership with New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), hundreds of units have already been sent to hospitals to be used for patient care.

Donors must have evidence of a positive test for COVID-19 and be symptom-free for at least 14 days. One donation can be used to treat two to three patients struggling with severe cases of COVID-19.

To learn more about the Nebraska Community Blood Bank’s efforts to collect convalescent plasma, please visit ncbb.org/cpdonor.