Geisinger recruiting COVID-19 survivors for their unique antibodies

DANVILLE, Pa. – If you’ve had COVID-19 and recovered, you have a special gift you can give someone else who’s sick. You can donate your blood plasma, which has unique antibodies that may help to fight the illness.  

Geisinger is joining Miller-Keystone Blood Center in reaching out to those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 to help current patients who have contracted the coronavirus. Convalescent plasma from a person who has recovered from COVID-19 contains antibodies that may provide a powerful boost to someone else fighting the viral infection. 

Antibody tests can also be used to identify eligibility to donate plasma for use as a therapy for patients currently battling COVID-19. Many of the antibody tests commercially available are not accurate enough for clinical use, but Geisinger is actively pursuing more reliable technology with hopes of developing its own antibody testing capabilities. 

"When a person becomes ill with COVID-19, it can take time to develop the antibodies needed to combat the disease," said Dr. Gustaaf De Ridder, Geisinger system director of transfusion services. "While some patients can become seriously ill and require the assistance of a ventilator, a large majority of those diagnosed do not become seriously ill. These patients recover and have antibodies in their plasma. By collecting this plasma and giving it to ill patients, we hope we can provide a boost to the patient’s antibodies and help stimulate recovery. This is particularly important in patients who have a suppressed immune system.”

Those with underlying medical conditions who have been exposed to COVID-19 could benefit tremendously from this treatment. Geisinger’s protocol for administering convalescent plasma is grounded in scientific evidence about which patients are most likely to benefit from this therapy and long-standing ethical best practices. Convalescent plasma infusions have been suggested to be most effective during the early stages of illness — and less so if a patient’s condition requires intensive care.

There is limited research concerning the effectiveness of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19. However, the data that is available is encouraging. Studies are underway around the world where researchers are investigating outcomes in patients in intensive care units with severe COVID-19 conditions. 

Who is eligible?

• You are eligible to donate plasma if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 and have been symptom-free for 28 days.
• You are eligible if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 have been symptom-free for 14 days and had a negative follow-up test for COVID-19. 

The simple donation process takes only 45 minutes of a donor’s time.

Call your doctor or message them through MyGeisinger and complete the attestation form that will make sure you are eligible to donate. If you are not already enrolled in the Geisinger patient portal, you can do so at geisinger.org/mygeisinger. When you have the completed form from your doctor, call our regional blood bank, Miller-Keystone, at 800-B-A-DONOR and make an appointment to give convalescent plasma. You’ll get a reminder call the day before your appointment. Remember to bring the attestation form to your appointment, or you won’t be able to donate.

If you have any other questions, please email dwiest@GiveAPint.org or tbacon@GiveAPint.org. You can also call or text 484-225-8351 or 610-691-5850, ext. 1279

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.