Research initiatives of blood services worldwide in response to the covid-19 pandemic - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2021 Mar;116(3):296-304.

doi: 10.1111/vox.12995. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Affiliations

Research initiatives of blood services worldwide in response to the covid-19 pandemic

Sheila F O'Brien et al. Vox Sang. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background and objectives: While coronavirus (COVID-19) is not transfusion-transmitted, the impact of the global pandemic on blood services worldwide is complex. Convalescent plasma may offer treatment, but efficacy and safety are not established. Measuring seroprevalence in donors would inform public health policy. Here, we survey blood services around the world to assess the different research programmes related to COVID-19 planned or in progress.

Materials and methods: Blood collection services were surveyed in June 2020 to determine whether they were participating in serosurveys or convalescent plasma collection and clinical trials.

Results: A total of 48 countries (77% of those contacted) responded. Seroprevalence studies are planned or in progress in 73% of countries surveyed and in all continents, including low- and middle-income countries. Most aimed to inform public health policy. Convalescent plasma programmes have been initiated around the globe (79% of surveyed), about three quarters as clinical trials in high-, middle- and low-income countries.

Conclusion: Blood services around the world have drawn upon their operational capacity to provide much-needed seroprevalence data to inform public health. They have rapidly implemented preparation of potential treatment when few treatments are available and mostly as clinical trials. At the same time, they must continue to provide blood products for recipients despite challenges of working in a state of emergency. It is important to track and coordinate research efforts across jurisdictions to gain a composite evidence-based view that will influence future practice and preparative strategies.

Keywords: COVID-19; convalescent plasma; research; seroprevalence.

© 2020 International Society of Blood Transfusion.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Situation Report-162. [Last Accessed July 7, 2020] Available from : https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/20200630-covid-19-s...
    1. Kumar S , Azim D , Nasim S , et al.: Dwindling blood supplies: an ominous downside of COVID-19 pandemic. Transfus Apher Sci 2020:102818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transci.2020.102818. Online ahead of print.
    1. Chen B , Xia R : Early experience with convalescent plasma as immunotherapy for COVID-19 in China: Knowns and unknowns. Vox Sang 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.12968
    1. Li L , Zhang W , Hu Y , et al.: Effects of convalescent plasma therapy on time to clinical improvement in patients with severe and life-threatening COVID-19 - A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2020; 324:1-11
    1. Joyner MJ , Wright RS , Fairweather D , et al.: Early safety indicators of COVID-19 convalescent plasma in 5000 patients. MedRxiv 2020;95(9)::1888-1897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.06.028

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources