In order to support the treatment of patients with Covid-19, the European Commission on Friday 31 July invited more than 200 blood collection services in the European Union to apply for funding for the purchase of plasmapheresis equipment to collect more convalescent plasma.
Used to collect plasma from blood donors, this equipment is used to collect plasma from former patients who have recovered from the coronavirus.
This convalescent plasma can then be transfused to sick patients to strengthen their immunity and their ability to fight the disease.
Plasma transfusion is also used to purify antibodies in order to manufacture a drug specific to Covid-19.
“Convalescent plasma could be a promising treatment for Covid-19 ”, said European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides.
Grants will therefore be given to public blood collection services and NGOs authorised to collect plasma.
According to Ms Kyriakides, this funding will enable the EU “to go further in collecting plasma”. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)