Manama: Nayla Barakat: The Kingdom of Bahrain is one step closer on using convalescent plasma to treat the COVID-19 infections. Convalescent plasma is antibody-rich products that are collected from eligible donors who have recovered from COVID-19.
Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qahtani, the Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), said that Bahraini researchers are currently working with the international partners trying to determine its safety and efficacy via clinical trials before routinely administering convalescent plasma to patients with COVID-19.
He was speaking as the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) held a press conference at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital to highlight COVID-19 developments and emphasised the importance of strictly following all measures to ensure the safety of the community.
Replying to a question about facilitating access to convalescent plasma, antibody-rich products that are collected from eligible donours who have recovered from COVID-19, he said that Kingdom of Bahrain has been working with local expertise and international partners on this aspect of treatment of the COVID-19 and in a week time thing would be much clear. The experts globally are trying to determine its safety and efficacy via clinical trials before routinely administering convalescent plasma to patients with COVID-19.
Bahrain is actively engaging with researchers to discuss the possibility of collaboration on the development of a master protocol for the use of convalescent plasma.
