Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Patients with COVID-19

Responding to the unprecedented challenge fighting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Government is supporting a national Expanded Treatment Protocol to collect and provide convalescent plasma to patients in need across the country. Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients contains antibodies that may help fight the disease. St. Mary Medical Center is a participating center for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COVID-19 convalescent plasma patient access program in conjunction with Mayo Clinic servicing as a central institutional review board (IRB).

For Potential Donors

Thank you for your interest in donating plasma to help very ill COVID-19 patients. This is an experimental treatment and is mostly reserved for the sickest patients who have exhausted other medical options. Since you have recovered from COVID-19, your plasma likely contains antibodies that have successfully fought the virus. By donating your plasma (known as convalescent plasma), we can transfer your antibodies to patients who are still sick.

Are you a donor?

You must fulfill the following criteria to be an eligible donor:

  1. Evidence that you have been infected by COVID-19 documented by one of these laboratory tests:
  • A diagnostic test (e.g., nasopharyngeal swab) at the time of illness

    OR

  • A positive serological test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after recovery, if prior diagnostic testing was not performed at the time COVID-19 was suspected.
  1. Either one of the following:
  • Complete resolution of symptoms at least 28 days prior to donation

    OR

  • Complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days prior to donation, AND negative results for COVID-19 either from one or more nasopharyngeal swab specimens or by a molecular diagnostic test from blood. St. Mary can facilitate additional testing as needed.

How to donate

If you fulfill the above criteria, please call us at 760 242-2311, Ext. 8361.