Coronavirus: What is convalescent plasma therapy? Things you should know.

With nearly 2.2 million cases already and over 150,000 deaths to infections globally, the world seems to have become very helpless in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Scientists are scrambling for vaccines, drugs and other ways that could be used as treatment against novel  With no surety of a definite treatment in sight, doctors around th world are dusting off a century-old treatment for infections: Infusion of blood plasma teeming with immune molecules that might help survivors beat the infection. The top medical research body of India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on April 16 approved a clinical trial for plasma treatment of those seriously ill with Covid-19.

Here’s all you need to know

What is convalescent plasma therapy?

Plasma therapy uses antibodies found in the blood of people who have recovered from an infection (or convalesced), to treat patients who are infected.

How does plasma therapy work against 

In this therapy, blood is drawn from a person who has recovered from the disease and the serum is separated and screened for virus-neutralising antibodies.

When attacked by a pathogen, our immune systems produce antibodies and in this therapy these antibodies from recovered patients are used to treat other sick people.