NHS calls for people in Northampton to donate plasma to help Covid patients as potential donors rise to its highest level

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is urging Northampton residents hitting the 28-day Covid recovery mark to register as plasma donors.

The number of potential donors has skyrocketed to the highest ever level following the national record number of Covid cases over the New Year.

People can only donate their plasma 28 days after they have recovered from coronavirus. Over 4,700 people living in and around Northampton have already registered to donate convalescent plasma after contracting the virus.

Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, Professor Dave Roberts, said: “More people than ever can help – the time to donate is now.

“We especially need donations from people in Northampton who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.”

The plasma of those who have recovered from coronavirus is rich in antibodies that may save the lives of those who struggle to develop their own immune response.

NHS Blood and Transplant is collecting plasma for new trials for older people and those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.

More than 120 donations have been taken at the Northampton donor centre on Roman Way so far.

Professor Roberts added: “We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.

“Donations are vital to the ongoing life saving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”

Donations are being taken at NHSBT's 23 blood centres and an additional 20 pop-up plasma donor centres.

Each donation takes around 45 minutes and the body quickly replaces the donated plasma and donated antibodies.

All donations are tested for coronavirus antibodies. Men, black and Asian people as well as people aged over 35 are more likely to have the high antibody levels needed for donation.

Over 60,000 donations have been taken nationwide and more than 300,000 people have offered to donate.

You can register to donate on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.