Plasma Donations

There is one type of COVID-19 treatment that can’t be recreated in the lab. It can only be created in the human body. Convalescent plasma has shown promising results. And the American Red Cross and non profit blood centers are working with hospitals to provide plasma from recovered patients to help people currently battling COVID-19.

The 21st speaks to a member of the Red Cross, a manager at Central Illinois Community Blood Center and a journalist for the Illinois Times to find out more about how plasma from people who’ve recovered from the disease is being explored as a way to treat those who are still afflicted.

Guests:

Laura McGuire, External Communications Manager for the American Red Cross 

Jim Watts, Manager of Donor Relations for the Central Illinois Community Blood Center

Carey Smith, Journalist for the Illinois Times

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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