Author: Sam Buisman

The University Hospital began administering an experimental plasma treatment to a COVID-19 patient on Monday.

According to a news release from UW Health, officials at the University Hospital administered convalescent plasma therapy to a COVID-19 patient, a treatment process where the patient is infused with the plasma of a someone who recovered from the disease. UW Health researchers are hoping that this treatment may diminish the severity or length of the virus.

UW Health released no details on the identity of the patient receiving this experimental treatment.

This joint research effort between UW Health and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health is part of a nationwide effort to study this treatment process after researchers from China found that convalescent plasma therapy could help reduce symptoms in extreme COVID-19 cases.

According to the FDA, this type of plasma therapy has been studied in other cases of respiratory viral outbreaks, including SARS, MERS and H1N1. However, the FDA has not yet approved convalescent plasma therapy for treating COVID-19 and is only permitting its use in clinical trials or for patients with immediately life-threatening cases.

UW Health is accepting plasma donations from people who have recovered from the novel coronavirus, those who are interested can call UW Health at 608-262-8300 or email them at [email protected].