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Baptist Health Madisonville spearheads breakthrough COVID-19 plasma treatment

May 12, 2020

Recovered COVID-19 patients asked to donate plasma to help others

Clinicians treating severely suffering COVID-19 patients at Baptist Health Madisonville now have access to the FDA-sponsored, Mayo Clinic-led expanded access treatment program through a clinical trial using plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients as a potential treatment option. 

The breakthrough convalescent plasma treatment allows current COVID-19 patients to receive plasma from recovered patients. The study is being spearheaded locally by Dr. Stacey Miller as Principle Investigator and Dr. Kevin Williams as Sub-Principle Investigator through the Baptist Health Clinical Research Center.

Convalescent plasma contains antibodies believed to fight the COVID-19 virus that may help patients improve more quickly. 

  

Plasma donations are collected from recovered COVID-19 patients willing to support the study. 

People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 may qualify to donate plasma if they meet specific plasma and blood donation eligibility requirements:

  
  • A COVID-19 diagnosis confirmed by a laboratory test 
  • Have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least 14-days 
  • Are at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds 
  • Feel well, generally, even if being treated for a chronic condition  
 

To donate, recovered COVID-19 patients are encouraged to visit www.wkrbc.org where information about plasma donation can be found on the Western KY Regional Blood Center site.  If donors have additional questions they are encouraged to call Jenifer Miller, RN, OCN, Research Associate in the Merle M. Mahr Cancer Center at 270.326.4813.

 

“Recovered COVID-19 patients have the opportunity to be part of a landmark study to help us beat COVID-19,” Jenifer Miller said. “Their participation could save lives.”

 

Those who also want to help during the COVID-19 pandemic can donate to the Baptist Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Assistance fund. To donate and help Baptist Health caregivers and patients, visit SupportBaptistHealth.org.