As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to hit new highs day after day in East Tennessee, MEDIC is working to save lives of patients through COVID convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusions.
MEDIC has seen a high demand for CCP, but has not been able to collect enough from recovered COVID patient donors to meet that need.
It currently has 4 units of CCP on hand, 43 being processed, 40 being imported Tuesday night, and another 26 on backorder. As of last Thursday's hospitalization report from the Knox County Health Department, regional hospitals were caring for at least 393 COVID-positive inpatients, with 66 in the ICU and 28 on ventilators. The number of COVID patients continues to rise to new highs each day in Knox County.
On Tuesday, MEDIC announced it will be able to expand its collections in both of its centers and through a mobile collections' initiative.
“We have been working with other blood centers through the summer to import CCP to meet our needs,” said director of communications and donor engagement Kristy Altman. “Unfortunately, those supplies have been depleted and we will need to collect all of the CCP that we need moving forward.”
MEDIC is increasing its CCP appointments at both the Ailor and Farragut donor centers and will be adding appointments to the Athens center.
It will also be sending mobile centers to Blount, Hamblen, Union and Scott counties.
If you've recovered from COVID-19 and would like to donate, an appointment is required. Potential donors will need to complete paperwork and undergo a pre-screening process.
All donors must have had a positive COVID-19 lab result or positive antibody lab result and must be symptom-free for at least 28 days.
Those interested can contact MEDIC at (865) 521-2682 or visit www.medicblood.org.