Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank
Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, convalescent plasma (CP) emerged as a potentially effective treatment neutralising SARS-CoV-2. Early CP therapy with high neutralising antibody (NAb) titre may benefit COVID-19 outpatients and, in sufficient quantities even some hospitalised patients. This...
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | New Microbes and New Infections |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297524003093 |
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| author | Mikael Kajova Tamim Khawaja Iris Levonen Jukka-Pekka Pietilä Jenni Virtanen Sari H. Pakkanen Hanna Välimaa Arttu Nousiainen Jussi Hepojoki Tarja Sironen Antti Vierikko Jarkko Ihalainen Olli Vapalahti Anu Kantele |
| author_facet | Mikael Kajova Tamim Khawaja Iris Levonen Jukka-Pekka Pietilä Jenni Virtanen Sari H. Pakkanen Hanna Välimaa Arttu Nousiainen Jussi Hepojoki Tarja Sironen Antti Vierikko Jarkko Ihalainen Olli Vapalahti Anu Kantele |
| author_sort | Mikael Kajova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, convalescent plasma (CP) emerged as a potentially effective treatment neutralising SARS-CoV-2. Early CP therapy with high neutralising antibody (NAb) titre may benefit COVID-19 outpatients and, in sufficient quantities even some hospitalised patients. This study details the process of setting up a CP bank, containing high- and low-titre CP for a clinical trial. Study design and methods: We identified 18–65-year-old convalescents with SARS-CoV-2 NAb titres of ≥1:40 in microneutralisation test (MNT). Following eligibility pre-screening, the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service (FRCBS) determined suitability as CP donors. Results: Of the 6466 COVID-19 convalescents contacted, 1481 provided serum, with 851 (57.5 %) exhibiting NAb titres ≥1:40. Participation barriers included reluctance, advanced age and, for women, insufficient body size. Of the volunteers, 125 were evaluated at FRCBS, with major exclusions for HLA antibodies (42 women), interferon antibodies (five men), and NAb titres waning below 1:20 (16 participants). Finally, 70 underwent plasmapheresis, resulting in 50 suitable CP donors (0.8 % of initial contacts and 3.4 % of those tested for NAb). Discussion: The process of setting up a CP bank proved challenging. Excessive laboratory workloads during a pandemic hamper their ability to conduct MNT, underscoring the need for rapid screening tests. Only a small proportion of our convalescents exhibited high-titre CP, this fraction declining over time because of waning immunity. Strict plasmapheresis criteria further constrained donor eligibility. Establishing a plasma bank requires meticulous planning to maximize efficiency. Detailed insights from current experiences may prove critical in future pandemics before other remedies and vaccines become available. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c832eee5dcf4fef9977fa7ccb6c94b1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2052-2975 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Microbes and New Infections |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c832eee5dcf4fef9977fa7ccb6c94b12025-08-20T02:38:21ZengElsevierNew Microbes and New Infections2052-29752024-12-016210152510.1016/j.nmni.2024.101525Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bankMikael Kajova0Tamim Khawaja1Iris Levonen2Jukka-Pekka Pietilä3Jenni Virtanen4Sari H. Pakkanen5Hanna Välimaa6Arttu Nousiainen7Jussi Hepojoki8Tarja Sironen9Antti Vierikko10Jarkko Ihalainen11Olli Vapalahti12Anu Kantele13Meilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, Finland; FIMAR, Finnish Multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance Research, University of Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, Finland; FIMAR, Finnish Multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance Research, University of Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, Finland; FIMAR, Finnish Multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance Research, University of Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandMeilahti Vaccine Research Center, MeVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Human Microbiome Research Program, University of Helsinki, Finland; FIMAR, Finnish Multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance Research, University of Helsinki, Finland; Corresponding author. Meilahti Vaccine Research Center MeVac, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum 1, 4th floor, POB 700, FI-00029 HUS, Finland.Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, convalescent plasma (CP) emerged as a potentially effective treatment neutralising SARS-CoV-2. Early CP therapy with high neutralising antibody (NAb) titre may benefit COVID-19 outpatients and, in sufficient quantities even some hospitalised patients. This study details the process of setting up a CP bank, containing high- and low-titre CP for a clinical trial. Study design and methods: We identified 18–65-year-old convalescents with SARS-CoV-2 NAb titres of ≥1:40 in microneutralisation test (MNT). Following eligibility pre-screening, the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service (FRCBS) determined suitability as CP donors. Results: Of the 6466 COVID-19 convalescents contacted, 1481 provided serum, with 851 (57.5 %) exhibiting NAb titres ≥1:40. Participation barriers included reluctance, advanced age and, for women, insufficient body size. Of the volunteers, 125 were evaluated at FRCBS, with major exclusions for HLA antibodies (42 women), interferon antibodies (five men), and NAb titres waning below 1:20 (16 participants). Finally, 70 underwent plasmapheresis, resulting in 50 suitable CP donors (0.8 % of initial contacts and 3.4 % of those tested for NAb). Discussion: The process of setting up a CP bank proved challenging. Excessive laboratory workloads during a pandemic hamper their ability to conduct MNT, underscoring the need for rapid screening tests. Only a small proportion of our convalescents exhibited high-titre CP, this fraction declining over time because of waning immunity. Strict plasmapheresis criteria further constrained donor eligibility. Establishing a plasma bank requires meticulous planning to maximize efficiency. Detailed insights from current experiences may prove critical in future pandemics before other remedies and vaccines become available.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297524003093COVID-19SARS-CoV-2Convalescent plasmaPlasma bankNeutralising antibodies |
| spellingShingle | Mikael Kajova Tamim Khawaja Iris Levonen Jukka-Pekka Pietilä Jenni Virtanen Sari H. Pakkanen Hanna Välimaa Arttu Nousiainen Jussi Hepojoki Tarja Sironen Antti Vierikko Jarkko Ihalainen Olli Vapalahti Anu Kantele Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank New Microbes and New Infections COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Convalescent plasma Plasma bank Neutralising antibodies |
| title | Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank |
| title_full | Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank |
| title_fullStr | Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank |
| title_full_unstemmed | Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank |
| title_short | Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 – Donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank |
| title_sort | convalescent plasma therapy for covid 19 donor selection strategies and establishment of a plasma bank |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Convalescent plasma Plasma bank Neutralising antibodies |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297524003093 |
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