Corona days and Plasma
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It's 16th April 2021. We are probably in the peak days of the Covid-19 second wave.
Last week my uncle was diagnosed with Covid-19 and he was shifted to a Covid hospital near my cousin's home. The hospital was small and in the next few days, we had to take him to a slightly bigger hospital for a ventilator bed because his condition worsened. The trouble we had to go through getting a ventilator bed and Remdesivir injection could not be explained in a single post. I had never experienced such a situation in my life nor did I imagine that this could happen in my city - Pune.
The purpose of this post is about making people aware of getting Plasma.
The doctors told us that my uncle would need Plasma for further treatment. His blood group is O+.
For Covid patients, it is not enough to have any Plasma. It has to come from a patient with Covid-19 antibodies. Meaning the donor himself must have been cured of Covid-19 at least before 28 days but not before 4 months. You can imagine the hardships of even getting a normal blood donor. It is quite a task to find someone with recent Covid history.
Our cousins had started a separate WhatsApp group to coordinate 'Operation Remdesivir'. We got into action again and even after 2 days of search we couldn't get any source of Plasma. To make matters worse, the well-meaning WhatsApp forwards did nothing but waste our time. These WhatsApp forwards seemingly had a list of donors and when we tried to contact them, most didn't answer the phone.
Then I sent a WhatsApp message to one of the mentioned donors in the list and he replied that he was not aware of such a list, nor he was ever infected by Covid nor could donate Plasma. He told that he was facing a lot of trouble because he was getting many calls day and night. I profusely apologized for adding to his troubles to which the gentleman responded well.
Now, I recalled that a few weeks ago I got a reference for a blood bank in Chinchwad - Morya Blood Bank from one of my friends - Mr. Sadashiv Kunden. Kunden sir is in the blood donation movement. I called the blood bank on the morning of Thursday, 16th April 2021. The coordinator over there Mr. Nilesh Gaiwad sir answered and explained that they had O+ plasma but it was reserved. He told that if we could arrange a replacement, he could give it to us. Replacement means that we should get them a Plasma donor with above mentioned Covid history.
After getting this information, I quickly called my cousin Amit who was frantically checking hospitals for Plasma. I told him that we would need to arrange a donor. We didn't have any idea that it could be any donor, not just an O+ blood group.
I also decided to check with my office colleagues and called Pratik, who had Covid-19 in January. I explained the situation and asked if he was ready to donate. Pratik without even thinking said yes. He was also O+.
Now I informed Amit who then reached the blood bank where they told him that we would first need to get the Antibody test done for the donor at a testing lab. So I called Pratik and asked him to directly come to the lab.
We all three reached there at 1PM. It took us a while to get it done at the Satav Labs in Chinchwad. Pratik came from his home in Baner. The experience in Satav Labs was good. We all three tested for antibodies even though only Pratik had a Covid-19 history.
The lab technicians told me that it would take 4 hours for them to generate the report. We all three went back to our respective homes. After an hour or so, I checked online and the reports were there. As expected, I and Amit didn't have any detectable antibodies but Pratik's score was 29 which was considered good as the lab technicians told me later.
After Pratik and I finished our office meeting, Pratik again came to the blood bank and I also reached there at around 7.30PM. We waited and waited for our turn as there were so many people with their donors lined up for the single Plasma machine. After waiting for 3 hours, at around 10.30PM, they took Pratik in and the process of Plasma separation started.
It took him 40 minutes for the process, where they make the blood pass through a machine that separates Plasma from blood, and the rest of the blood is injected back into the donor's body with additional IV fluids. Pratik felt fine after the process but we still rested there for 10 minutes and had juice and snacks Amit had bought.
When we were about to collect the Plasma the lab technician told us that they would need a doctor's report and the patient's blood sample to match the plasma. Now that was news for us. Amit quickly went back to the hospital to get the sample from the hospital while we waited for them to print Pratik's donation certificate.
After a while Amit came back with samples, he gave them to the technician. We thanked Pratik for his favor. It was mighty brave of him to come to help us in the partial lockdowns and such a fearful environment. Pratik indeed is a fine man.
Once he left, Amit suggested that he would wait and I also should leave for home. I would know later from him that he was there at the lab till 12.45AM. The lab guys had tried to give him reserved Plasma with a score of 15 and not Pratik's. He argued that if the lab had the Plasma, they could have given us which would have started my uncle's treatment much earlier. But the lab guys told that they do it often that only after the relatives get them donor and s/he donates, only then they release the Plasma. Amit was adamant that he wanted our donor's (Pratik's) Plasma and he waited till they complete all the process.
How much does it cost? Rs.5500 per bag. Even when you have your own donor. It doesn't matter. Pratik donated 2 bags (200 ml each) and we paid 11000 for those two bags. We were lucky so to speak. Amit earlier got a call from a black marketer that he would give Plasma Rs.15000 for each bag.
Now following are the points you as a relative of a Covid patient should consider when you are looking for Plasma.
1. Do not frantically keep calling on random WhatsApp forwards. Most of the forwards though well-meaning are outdated or misinformed.
2. Call blood banks. Chances are they will ask you to arrange a replacement. Meaning - you need to arrange a donor who had Covid 28 days ago but not more than 4 months ago.
3. The donor does not have to be in the same blood group that you are looking for. It's an exchange. You can give any blood group and in exchange, they will give you your desired blood group if they have it in stock.
4. The blood bank wants an Antibody report. Check if they have the lab themselves or go to a lab and get it done. It costs Rs.800 (At least where we did it - Satav Labs Chinchwad Station)
5. The Antibody reports can take 30 minutes to 4 hours to be generated.
6. Once you have reports and confirmation that the donor has the antibodies, go to the blood bank with the donor.
7. Keep the patient's blood sample and doctor's prescription for the Plasma requirement. Keep hard copy possibly. They need the sample for Plasma matching after the donor donates. (That's what I was told)
8. Blood banks are charging Rs.5000 to 7000 per bag of Plasma. It's been a standard rate since the pandemic. Even if you have your donor.
9. I am repeating this point - blood banks need a replacement for any blood group. If they have Plasma for your required blood group they will accept donors with any blood group with Antibodies.
10. I have nothing against the blood bank. If they don't force for replacement donors, they will run out of stock in no time. In a way, they are doing a dirty job to save our society.
The above points are my experience. There could be differences depending on the place and people. Use discretion.
We need to help each other in this tough period by donating. The curse you went through a few days ago, can become a boon for someone else. Nature works in strange ways. What you give will come back.
Today, while writing this, I hope that my uncle is receiving the Plasma that would save him. Pratik - you are the man. Mere thanking you does not reflect the gratitude I feel for you.
I hope we all sail through this rough weather safe and sound. There are things that Covid-19 is teaching us. With all our money and resources, there is still no replacement for empathy and humanity.
_*_
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