BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Tuesday Grifols Biomat announced it has begun identifying, screening, and selecting volunteer donors who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma at centers in the Bakersfield area.
The plasma will be used to produce a hyperimmune globulin that, if proven effective, could potentially treat the disease.
Grifols has already begun producing a hyperimmune globulin, with the initial doses expected in July as part of a clinical trial. This initiative is a result of a collaboration between Grifols, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research Authority (BARDA), and other Federal health agencies.
“For individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, donating plasma at one of Grifols’ donor centers to produce a potential treatment for the disease is a way they can help make a difference during this exceptional time,” said Dr. Marilyn Rosa-Bray, Grifols Chief Medical Officer and Vice President Quality, Regulatory Compliance & Laboratories. “This hyperimmune globulin would offer treating physicians a predictable and consistent dosing of the antibody against the virus that causes COVID-19.”
Recovered COVID-19 individuals interested in donating should call 1-866-END-CV19 where trained Grifols specialists will prescreen potential donors and direct them to their local Grifols plasma donor center.
Interested donors must have a diagnosis made with a test (nasal swab or blood) and complete resolution of COVID-19 symptoms at least 28 days prior to donation, or complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days prior to donation along with a negative molecular test for COVID-19, as well as meet our routine eligibility criteria for normal source plasma donation.
For more information visit their website.
