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NEW ORLEANS — LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Diseases physicians and staff are calling for plasma donations from people who have recovered from COVID-19.

“We are looking for donors who have recovered from COVID-19 to provide blood plasma for potential use in patients with severe and life-threatening COVID-19 at University Medical Center,” said Yussef Bennani, MD, assistant professor in the section of infectious diseases at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine.

Eligible donors must have previously tested positive for COVID-19 and have had a complete resolution of symptoms for at least 28 days, OR have had a complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days and have a confirmed negative repeat COVID-19 test.

Those interested in donating plasma who have had fewer than 28 days since the resolution of symptoms can schedule an appointment for repeat testing. Please contact Sharon Weiser at the LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Research Office by phone at 504-568-7740 or by email at sweise@lsuhsc.edu.

Convalescent plasma therapy has been used effectively as immunotherapy for a number of infectious diseases for many years, hence the interest in evaluating its safety and efficacy as a rescue therapy for COVID-19.