BLOOD plasma from survivors will be given to 5,000 coronavirus patients a week in an NHS trial.

It is hoped antibodies in blood from those who have recovered will clear the bug in others with a weaker immune response.
So-called convalescent plasma was used as an effective treatment during the SARS outbreak.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I have every hope this treatment will be a major milestone in our fight against this disease.”

NHS Blood and Transplant will contact those who have recovered from confirmed Covid-19 and could be a donor.

Blood is taken from an arm, circulated through a machine to separate the plasma and returned to the donor.

The 45-minute process produces two units of plasma, which can be frozen and stored for future use.
Dr Gail Miflin, from NHSBT, said: “We are rapidly building our capability to collect plasma so we can quickly move into supplying hospitals at scale, should the trial show patient benefit.”

Prof Jonathan Van Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, added that the UK already had more than 7,000 people involved testing a range of medicines to tackle Covid-19.

Recovered patients will be asked to donate plasma.