America’s Blood Centers is the national trade association for independent, community blood centers who collect 60 percent of the nation’s blood supply and more than 80 percent of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP). We and our member blood centers continue to support and prioritize both the safe collection and equitable distribution of CCP.
We support the data collection efforts by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make an informed decision regarding Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for CCP. It is critical to note that timing of an EUA does not impact any of the current FDA-authorized pathways for distribution of CCP and there remains an ongoing need for additional CCP donors.
More than 130,000 total units of convalescent plasma have been distributed to patients nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for CCP remains high and can only be met through voluntary donations by individuals who have fully recovered from COVID-19. Currently, convalescent plasma is being distributed under investigational status, through either clinical trials, the expanded access protocol (EAP), or single patient emergency INDs (eINDs).
The safety of CCP for COVID-19 patients has been demonstrated. While convalescent plasma is a long-standing therapy used in previous pandemics, and specifically for other coronaviruses (SARS and MERS), the efficacy of CCP for COVID-19 is still being evaluated. America’s Blood Centers and our member blood centers remain committed to these studies and to their success.
The safety of CCP and the need for additional CCP donors has been recognized by public health leaders from multiple federal agencies. We join their message in strongly encouraging individuals who have had COVID-19 and have since fully recovered to donate convalescent plasma at your local blood center. The center nearest you can be found at www.AmericasBlood.org.