Krakow's Blood Bank Collects Plasma From COVID-19 Convalescents
KRAKOW, POLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Kristina, (21years old) who recovered from COVID -19 donates her plasma via plasmapheresis method at the Regional Center of Blood Donation and Blood Treatment on November 10, 2020 in Krakow, Poland. The Regional Center of Blood Donation and Blood Treatment in Krakow has been appealing to the COVID-19 convalescents to donate their plasma, as the number of coronavirus cases in Poland have reached more than 590,000. The Plasma is collected using the plasmapheresis method, during which the blood taken from a vein is divided into plasm and the remaining cellular elements of the blood are re-transfused to the blood donor. In case the plasma donation turns out to be uncomfortable, the convalescent may donate the blood and after a series of laboratory procedures will be taken to extract the plasma. Since April 28, 2020 the Krakow's Blood Regional Center has collected more than 300 units from recovered COVID -19 donors and from October 27th more than 90 blood donations have been proceeded to extract plasma. The Central-Eastern European country has been dealing with the second wave of COVID -19 and today recorded 25,784 new coronavirus cases and over 330 deaths. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images)