A Bryan Health doctor Thursday implored people who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood so it can be used to help treat other patients.
Dr. Aina Silenieks, a Bryan pathologist, said only 30 recovered patients have donated blood plasma to the Nebraska Community Blood Bank. That's less than 2% of the 1,739 people the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department lists as having recovered from the disease.
Bryan has treated 127 patients with convalescent plasma as part of an affiliation with the Mayo Clinic. It enrolled its first patient in that program April 18 and was able to get the convalescent plasma from the blood bank's network of affiliated entities.
In fact, of the 150 units of convalescent plasma Bryan has used thus far, 77% has come from blood banks in New York and Delaware. Only 13% has come from the local blood bank.
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The Food and Drug Administration has now authorized the use of convalescent plasma on an emergency basis, meaning hospitals like Bryan can now treat patients on their own without registering the patients in the Mayo Clinic program.
Silenieks said the local blood bank has a supply of plasma from common blood types like A and O on hand, but when a patient has a less common blood type such as B or AB, it has to source the plasma from other blood banks.
She pointed out that anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 can donate, as long as they have a lab-confirmed positive test and have been symptom free for at least 14 days. The process is simple, fast and safe, "and you get a cookie afterward, which is always a nice benefit."
Those looking to donate or who want more information can go to: .