If you have had a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and are now fully recovered, with no symptoms for at least 14 days, YOU can help others in their recovery.
¿Sé a recuperado de COVID-19? ¡Sé un héroe y ayude a otros! Usted puede donar plasma convaleciente.
How easy is it?
Schedule a donation at any Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center location. When you arrive, bring your test results with you and be sure to alert staff that you have previously tested positive for COVID.
That’s it. That’s all it takes to be someone’s hero. Let’s go save some lives!
Frequently Asked Questions About Convalescent Plasma
Yes, we are currently working with local hospitals and contacting eligible donors to collect their convalescent plasma.
To be eligible to participate, the individual:
- Must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test, or a positive antibody test.
- Be eligible to donate blood.
- Must have fully recovered from COVID-19, with complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days before the donation.
No, we do not test for coronavirus.
Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from an infection.
Antibodies present in convalescent plasma are proteins that might help fight the infection.
Convalescent plasma is being investigated for the treatment of COVID-19, and there is some information that suggests it might help some patients recover from COVID-19.
Further investigation is still necessary to determine if convalescent plasma might shorten the duration of illness, reduce morbidity, or prevent death associated with COVID-19.
It is not known if convalescent plasma will be an effective treatment against COVID-19.
Plasma transfusions are generally safe and well-tolerated by most patients but can cause allergic reactions and other side effects. It is also not known if patients with COVID-19 might have other types of reactions to convalescent plasma.
While it is not known if convalescent plasma is safe and effective against COVID-19, there is anecdotal evidence that convalescent plasma might be for some patients.
The FDA is permitting the emergency investigational use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 under the criteria of the emergency IND.
Individuals must have had a diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test or a positive antibody test.
As of June 15, 2020, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is testing all blood donations for the COVID-19 antibody. This test will be performed in addition to the standard testing all blood donations received. To see the test results or to check your Donor Rewards points redeemable for digital gift cards, access your Digital Donor account. The antibody test results will be available in approximately 7 days.
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center invites donors who test positive for the antibodies to return and give convalescent plasma to help patients recover in local hospitals.
This test is authorized by the FDA for detecting the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and is not intended for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is using the Roche Diagnostics Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Test and the Ortho VITROS Immunodiagnostic Products Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. These tests are authorized by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization, which means it can be used only during the time of the Coronavirus pandemic crisis. This test is authorized by the FDA only for detecting the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and is not intended for diagnosis of COVID-19.
Contact us at (713) 791-6373 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can also complete this form and a Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center team member will contact you.
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is making changes to the COVID-19 convalescent plasma program to meet the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements announced on February 4, 2021. Convalescent plasma is authorized for emergency use (EUA) in the treatment of patients with active infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Doctors are encouraged to transfuse convalescent plasma early in the disease course and only use units with high-antibody (high titer) levels.
- Research has indicated that COVID-19 convalescent plasma with high titer antibodies is likely to have an important role in the ongoing pandemic response.
- To improve patient care, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is now focused on producing only high titer convalescent plasma.
- Donors are still qualified for convalescent plasma donations by providing proof of a positive test at the time of donation, after recovery and absence of symptoms for at least 2 weeks.
- All donations continue to be tested for COVID-19 antibodies for the foreseeable future. If positive, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will determine if the donor is considered high titer before recruiting them for another donation of convalescent plasma.
- Donors with high titer antibodies will be asked to give a dedicated convalescent plasma donation; however, other donors may be asked to give a whole blood, platelet or regular plasma donation instead.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TITER
Titer indicates the level or strength of antibodies in plasma.
Antibody levels can vary in different people and can change over time. When antibody levels are lower, you may no longer be eligible to give a convalescent plasma donation. However, you can give another donation type needed in our community.
Changes began immediately after the February announcement, and we intend to continue enhancing the collection of high titer plasma going forward.
You can donate the product type the patients need most from you when you make your donation.
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will continue to test all donations for COVID-19 antibodies for the foreseeable future. The donor will find their test result (positive, negative) in our Digital Donor platform. The FDA has not authorized reporting specific titer levels, so titer information will not be available in the donor portal.
