NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) – More than a hundred COVID-19 patients have become recipients of donors' blood plasma in Belarus. About half of them have displayed signs of recovery after such treatment, Head of the National Research Center for Transfusiology and Medical Biotechnology Fyodor Karpenko told the STV channel.
“We have changed our tactics of treatment in contrast to our original plans and what we have seen in international publications. We are talking about the quality of plasma: we see antibody titer and select the most suitable plasma. We are keeping tabs on all recipients, patients who have received plasma treatment in the center,” Fyodor Karpenko said.
According to him, 50 patients have shown signs of recovery and some of them have fully recovered. The center uses donor plasma in treating severe cases. Patients' relatives have been warned that the decision on plasma transfusion is made by the doctor, so they should not search for a donor via social networks, especially offering a monetary reward. “I would like to appeal to patients' relatives: please, do not write online that donors will get some additional money. Believe me, all blood plasma, everything we get, we give patients straight away. Not a single donor refused because of money and said that they would not come because they are paid too little or get few benefits, guarantees, and compensations,” Fyodor Karpenko pointed out.
The first blood plasma donation was performed in Belarus on 11 April. As of today, more than 120 people in Belarus donated plasma. Over 200 people registered to become donors, however, not all of them met the donation requirements because of having contraindications or having no antibodies.
The donation should be preceded by a thorough medical examination. The very transfusion lasts from 30 to 50 minutes. As many as 99% of donors experience no side effects.
