Plasma from convalescents is a priceless gift
In May of this year, the Pocztowy Dar Foundation purchased specialized medical equipment, a so-called immunological analyzer, which was delivered to the Regional Blood Donation and Treatment Center in Białystok. To date, it has been used to test 2,500 samples obtained from recovered patients from across the country who have managed to overcome COVID-19 and are now able to help Poles in need.
The Białystok analyzer is the only device of its kind in the country, owned by regional blood donation and blood therapy centers. It processes patients and samples from donors across Poland. It can accurately determine the level of anti-SARS-CoV-IgA and anti-SARS-CoV-IgG antibodies in blood plasma from recovered patients, allowing for the preparation of appropriate doses of therapeutic plasma for COVID-19 patients. The Regional Blood Donation and Blood Therapy Center in Białystok is preparing such preparations for patients in infectious diseases hospitals across the country.
" Poczta Polska is supporting the efforts of institutions fighting the epidemic in many ways, including transporting and distributing hygiene materials to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. We have also spared no expense to ensure that our customers and employees feel safe. This is an important element of our business, where people play a key role. We believe that thanks to the Białystok analyzer, among other things, we will be able to help many patients, including our employees, " says Tomasz Zdzikot, CEO of Poczta Polska.
To date, the analyzer has enabled the testing of 2,500 samples obtained from convalescent plasma recipients across the country. These include samples collected at the Regional Blood Donation and Treatment Center in Białystok and samples from all Regional Blood Donation and Treatment Centers in Poland. The largest amount of convalescent plasma was collected at the Racibórz Regional Blood Donation and Treatment Center, which also accounts for the largest number of samples – over 600. Over 200 donors were collected at centers in Białystok, Warsaw, and Wrocław, while the remaining samples were collected from over 100 donors. In total, over 5,000 therapeutic doses of plasma have already been obtained, of which approximately 4,000 have been dispensed to patients to date.
" Despite the increase in recorded infections, there are still more healthy people than sick people. Furthermore, the number of recovered people is increasing by several thousand every day. Today, those who have recovered from COVID-19 can help hospitalized patients with their plasma. The vast majority of them are eligible to donate plasma. We are appealing to them for help on behalf of COVID-19 patients, for whom plasma from recovered patients will shorten the duration of their illness and perhaps even save their lives, " says Dr. Dariusz Średziński, Deputy Medical Director of the Regional Center for Blood and Blood Collection in Białystok.
Poczta Polska is also appealing for help by disseminating information on social media and among its 80,000-strong postal community. The company encourages people who have already had the coronavirus and meet the appropriate criteria to donate plasma . This can be done at the nearest blood donation center after prior telephone contact and an initial interview to assess the individual's suitability as a donor.
In October 2020 alone, the Regional Blood Donation and Treatment Center (RCKiK) in Białystok distributed over 300 doses of plasma collected from dozens of recovered patients to hospitals. Due to the observed increase in infections, demand for convalescent plasma from hospitals continues to grow. The RCKiK in Białystok has also observed a fortunate increase in the number of donors reporting to centers across the country in recent weeks.