Give blood to help in search for Covid cure
The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) has issued an appeal for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 to donate blood. This will then go through a manufacturing process which will extract plasma from the blood. Plasma is the yellowish liquid compound of blood that holds the blood cells in suspension and contains antibodies that can hopefully be used in the treatment of Covid patients.
The NIBTS is taking part, along with the other UK Blood Transfusion Services, in trials which could develop this potentially life-saving plasma treatment.
NIBTS began collecting blood for the purposes of harvesting convalescent plasm on June 19.
If you have tested positive for Covid-19 and would like to help in this life saving work, visit www.nibts.org and register.
The Health Minister, Robin Swann, has welcomed the participation of NIBTS in the blood plasma trials.
He said: “Northern Ireland plays a key role in world-leading research and I have every hope this treatment will be a major milestone in our fight against this disease. The selflessness and public spirit that’s been so evident across our community during the Covid-19 pandemic is continuing through a number of important clinical trials. I want to thank everyone who has stepped forward to help in the battle to defeat Covid-19.”
Matt Gillespie from NIBTS said: “This is a real opportunity for people to come forward, donate and to really make a difference to the lives of other people.”