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Survivors of COVID-19 donating plasma to help others battle virus

As more and more people recover from COVID-19, hospitals are turning to survivors to help those still battling the virus.

Posted Updated

By
Kirsten Gutierrez
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — As more and more people recover from COVID-19, hospitals are turning to survivors to help those still battling the virus.
UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed have all treated patients with convalescent plasma, the liquid part of blood that contains COVID-19 antibodies.

The Blood Connection is the primary blood provider for UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh and WakeMed. It also serves Duke University Hospital. When donors give blood or plasma with The Blood Connection, their blood goes directly to one of those three hospitals.

“Duke has supply relationships with several blood collection agencies including The Blood Connection, as well as the American Red Cross," Duke Health spokeswoman Sarah Avery said. "The Blood Connection has mobilized robust resources to collect convalescent plasma from Duke patients with demonstrated antibodies to the virus.”

Gilbert Thomason donated at UNC last Saturday. Thomason has fully recovered from COVID-19. Once he waited two weeks, he volunteered to donate.
He said the process took about 40 minutes, and it was much easier than he had imagined. He said UNC had pizza, snacks and movies to keep him occupied while he donated a big bag of plasma. While he wasn’t excited about the needle, he said it was worth it and would do it again if he could.
COVID-19 survivor donates plasma

“I do not like needles, so it was kind of a big step," Thomason said. "But ultimately, I just wanted to be one to help people in this situation. I was an early case here in North Carolina the number was about 400 when I tested positive. Anything I could do to help I was going to do.”

Right now, UNC is accepting donations every Saturday by appointment only.
For more information on donating plasma, go to the FDA website or the UNC Health website.

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