The Ministry of Health announced today that it has started the process of collecting plasma in order to treat infections with the new Coronavirus, something it was preparing for about a week ago, the treatment being one used in many other Western countries.
The Ministry of Health has already collected plasma from 3 donors, and will continue to do so as it will be used to treat those who are unable to make the antibodies to fight the new Coronavirus on their own, and below are the criteria for use.
"The process of collecting plasma to treat patients infected with the new coronavirus has started.
This morning, the first 3 plasma collections from donors cured of COVID-19 took place at the Bucharest Blood Transfusion Center.
The plasma will be tested and after biological qualification will be made available to hospitals.
Plasma from a cured COVID-19 donor (PPC-DV-COVID-19) will only be administered to critically ill patients confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, at least 18 years of age, who meet the following criteria:
a. is in an ICU ward of a hospital designated by order of the Minister of Health for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and approved by the ICU Commission
b. presents a rapid progression of severe pneumonia / pulmonary infiltrates (> 50% in 24-48 hours), despite the treatment administered.
c. are mechanically ventilated for less than 10 days or on the threshold of intubation and mechanical ventilation (severe dyspnea, respiratory rate ≥ 30/min, oxygen saturation ≤ 93% with face mask oxygen, paCO2 >55 mmHg in patients without COPD)
We remind you that the Ministry of Health developed the Ministerial Order on the Methodology for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of plasma from the donor cured of COVID-19 and the monitored use for critical patients with COVID-19 in the ATI wards.
The document establishes the method of collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of plasma from the donor cured of COVID-19 and the monitored use for critical patients with COVID-19 in the ATI wards, in accordance with the national legislation in the field of blood transfusion and the developed technical guide by the European Commission regarding the collection, testing, processing, storage, distribution and monitored use of plasma from persons cured of COVID-19 for the treatment of COVID-19.
At the moment there are 3 machines for plasma treatment of patients with coronavirus donated to the Ministry of Health in Bucharest, Timișoara and Iași.
The Ministry of Health encourages the voluntary donation of blood and blood products and through all the actions undertaken aims to improve the way of donating among the population, for the benefit of patients.
In this context, patients cured of COVID 19 will be contacted, in compliance with national and EU rules, or they can contact blood transfusion centers in order to donate plasma."
