Plasma therapy as a treatment for COVID-19 among adults has been removed

NEW DELHI: Convalescent plasma therapy has been removed from the government's clinical protocol for adult COVID-19 patients.

The government-appointed task force on COVID-19 yesterday removed the plasma therapy from the treatment protocol for adult COVID-19 patients.

Convalescent plasma therapy has been omitted from the updated clinical recommendations for the care of adult COVID-19 patients, even as an "off-label" treatment.

According to reports, all members of the ICMR-National Task Force for COVID-19 agreed to exclude convalescent plasma from the Clinical Guidance for Management of Adult COVID-19 Patients on Friday, citing its ineffectiveness and improper use in many cases.

ALSO READ: Dhubri cries as district SP Anand Mishra transferred; urges Assam CM to cancel the transfer

Some clinicians and scientists have written to Principal Scientific Advisor K VijayRaghavan, caution against the "irrational and non-scientific use" of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country, prompting the decision to exclude it from the guidelines.

With the number of cases increasing across the nation, there has been a surge in demand for plasma donors, amid experts raising questions about plasma therapy's efficacy for COVID-19 patients.

Antibodies from a COVID-19-free patient's blood are used to treat critical patients in plasma therapy.

Follow us on Facebook