South Bend Medical Foundation, in partnership with Logansport Memorial Hospital, is looking for people have fully recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma for an investigational treatment option to help current patients with serious, life-threatening COVID-19 infections. As a result of the infection, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 now have antibodies in their plasma. This plasma, known as “convalescent plasma,” can be transfused to a currently sick patient as part of treatment to help them recover.
Plasma donations starting Wednesday, May 27
Starting on Wednesday, May 27, South Bend Medical Foundation will be on-site in the Market Conference Room at Logansport Memorial Hospital for COVID-19 convalescent plasma donations. They will continue to be on-site every Wednesday for four weeks to collect as many plasma donations from fully recovered COVID-19 patients as possible:
- Wednesday, May 27
- Wednesday, June 3
- Wednesday, June 10
- Wednesday, June 17
This is an exciting opportunity for LMH to work together with SBMF and collect plasma here locally, in the north central Indiana region. If you are a fully recovered COVID-19 patient, and would like to donate plasma to another patient, you will need to know the following information:
- Call (574) 204-4243 or click here to submit your information. A SBMF representative will review your eligibility and discuss the process with you.
- Bring your COVID-19 test results with you.
- There will be no charge to you for your donation.
- You will not be paid for your convalescent plasma donation.
- You must be symptom free for 14 days before coming in to donate plasma.
- There will only be 8-10 donations per day, so you must submit your information and schedule an appointment time before coming in to donate plasma.
- If you have ever been pregnant, you must be tested for HLA antibodies and found to be negative prior to donating.
An investigational treatment
While COVID-19 has no proven treatment, this investigational treatment option has shown to help patients currently fighting the virus in current clinical studies. Experience with historical infectious diseases, including the Spanish flu, sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS), and influenza H1N1 shows that convalescent plasma can be a beneficial viral treatment and prophylactic medicine. Early research suggests that this is a safe and effective therapy that will reduce the length and severity of COVID-19 for patients who receive it.
How you can help
By participating in the convalescent plasma donation, you will be doing your part in helping the people of your community recover from COVID-19. For more information on your eligibility or about the plasma donation process, call SBMF Blood Donor Services Manager Laura Broadstreet at (574) 204-4466.
To schedule a plasma donation appointment at Logansport Memorial Hospital, call (574) 204-4243. If you or someone you know has fully recovered from COVID-19 and would like to participate, download this flyer for easy access to information!
