Lessons learned in the collection of convalescent plasma during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Background The lack of definitive treatment or preventative options for COVID‐19 led many clinicians early on to consider convalescent plasma (CCP) as potentially therapeutic. Regulators, blood centres and hospitals worldwide worked quickly to get CCP to the bedside. Although response was admirable, several areas have been identified to help improve future pandemic management. Materials and methods A multidisciplinary, multinational subgroup from the ISBT Working Group on COVID‐19 was tasked with drafting a manuscript that describes the lessons learned pertaining to procurement and administration of CCP, derived from a comprehensive questionnaire within the subgroup. Results While each country’s responses and preparedness for the pandemic varied, there were shared challenges, spanning supply chain disruptions, staffing, impact of social distancing on the collection of regular blood and CCP products, and the availability of screening and confirmatory SARS‐CoV‐2 testing for donors and patients. The lack of a general framework to organize data gathering across clinical trials and the desire to provide a potentially life‐saving therapeutic through compassionate use hampered the collection of much‐needed safety and outcome data worldwide. Communication across all stakeholders was identified as being central to reducing confusion. Conclusion The need for flexibility and adaptability remains paramount when dealing with a pandemic. As the world approaches the first anniversary of the COVID‐19 pandemic with rising rates worldwide and over 115 million cases and 2·55 million deaths, respectively, it is important to reflect on how to better prepare for future pandemics as we continue to combat the current one.

International Society of Blood Transfusion survey of experiences of blood banks and transfusion services during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Early in the pandemic, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) established a multidisciplinary working group, comprised of international transfusion experts, to review the impacts of COVID‐19 on blood systems and existing practices on CCP collection and use from donor, product and patient perspectives [ 11 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. This survey aims to assess the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on BEs and TMS around the world to summarize the experiences and provide guidance to prepare for future pandemics.…”

COVID-19 Mortality and Morbidity Rate in a Tertiary Care Hospital Swat, Pakistan

“…The Chinese city, Wuhan was the first known location of Covid-19 infection in December 2019, and it has since spread to more than 213 nations 13 .Management of covid-19 is a global health issue that affects both industrialized and developing countries 14 . Given the fast exchange of information, numerous problems remain unresolved, and many treatments lack conclusive evidence 15 . The prevalence and mortality of Covid-19 in developing nations, notably Pakistan, are still poorly understood, despite the abundance of information presently available on the disease's clinical symptoms and basic epidemiology.…”

Plasma procurement and plasma product safety in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic from the perspective of the plasma industry

“…In parallel, global demand for plasma products has continued to grow across approved indications as a result of broader access in more countries and more patients with rare diseases being diagnosed. The notion that convalescent plasma (CP) and hyperimmune globulin products could be viable treatment options for COVID‐19 patients has further increased the demand for plasma [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Moreover, with only a small percentage of the 3000+ proteins [ 7 ] circulating in plasma being used therapeutically today, research is currently under way to unlock the untapped potential in plasma to support treatment for many diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell anaemia and age‐related macular degeneration [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”