Local blood center makes call for COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors

The pandemic is straining Iowa hospitals to the limit and right now there's a shortage of COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors.

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is struggling to find donors to meet the demand.

The donations contain antibodies to the coronavirus and are used in the treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

"Just one person coming in and offering some of their time is allowing four patients to get some extra help in the hospitals," said donor relations consultant for Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Carri Koch.

Josie Brendes is a freshman studying nursing at Mount Mercy University.

"After I had COVID, I kind of thought it would be a good idea to start donating my blood and plasma," shared Brendes.

Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center serves 116 hospitals including UnityPoint and Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

"We need them, they need us, so we're trying to fill that void that exists right now," said Koch.

Through mid-October and November there's been a drastic demand for COVID-19 convalescent plasma.

"Our hospitals are requesting more than we're actually receiving from donations so as that need has increased we do not match the donations we are receiving," explained Koch.

Donors must be at least 28 days from the last date they've had respiratory symptoms which also delays the process.

"As our spike has increased, we don't have that increase number because they need those 28 days since their last symptom," said Koch, "so the donors aren't necessarily high quantity as the need is just right now."

That's why Brendes says it's important to donate as soon as you can.

"It's a good way to give back if you've had had and you were fortunate enough to survive and to not have bad symptoms," shared Brendes. "It's a great thing to do to help people who have preexisting conditions and have problems where if they do get it, they're going to be a lot worse off."

Although COVID-19 convalescent plasma is in high demand, Koch says they are always in need of whole blood donations, especially during the holidays.

To learn more about donating COVID-19 convalescent plasma click here.