TULSA, Okla. — The Oklahoma Blood Institute Tulsa announced Tuesday it collected its first units of convalescent plasma from a recovered coronavirus patient.
This experimental initiative is to treat seriously ill patients, according to OBI officials.
OBI created a statewide registry on April 5 and 80 people are already signed up, including one Tulsa man who donated plasma units Tuesday, officials said.
After collecting the plasma, the units will be processed and tested, officials said. Once it's cleared, doctors will transfuse the plasma into critically ill patients to help them fight off the illness.
In order to donate, officials say you must have a prior diagnosis of COVID-19, be symptom-free for 14 days before donating and test negative for the virus, and you must be eligible to donate blood.
Donors can sign up through Bio-Linked, a site that allows users to submit confidential information and list themselves as potential volunteers for medical research.
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