Coronavirus: Norwalk Hospital To Open Plasma Donation Center

NORWALK, CT — Nuvance Health will be opening a Convalescent Plasma Donation Center at Norwalk Hospital on April 29. People who have recovered from the new coronavirus are being encouraged to donate their plasma which is potentially life-saving for critically ill patients fighting the virus.

The facility in Norwalk will follow the opening of a center in Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie on Monday, and precede the opening of one at Danbury Hospital on May 1. All these hospitals are operated by Nuvance Health.

"Plasma contains antibodies that can fight infection," said Dr. James Nitzkorski, a surgical oncologist at Nuvance Health. "When someone recovers from a COVID-19 infection, they do so, in part, because the antibodies can neutralize the virus and make someone better. That plasma is then taken from a donor, prepared and then given to a critically-ill, COVID-19 patient."

Nuvance Health has been using plasma for COVID-19 patients, working with the New York Blood Center and the American Red Cross to procure donations. Because the need is great, Nuvance Health has opened its own donor centers to meet the demands and to rapidly increase available plasma, Nitzkorski said.

To qualify, donors must meet the following criteria as set forth by the Food and Drug Administration:

• COVID-19 confirmation with either positive swab or antibody test (antibody tests are expected but not currently available in our centers).
• 14-day, symptom-free interval with a repeat negative swab.
• 28-day, symptom-free interval with NO need for a repeat swab.

To donate, interested individuals must first register online. A staff member will contact the prospective candidates for further instruction. Priority is now being given to donors getting closer to the 28-day, symptom-free interval.

Once selected, participants will donate their blood plasma at one of the three Nuvance locations. The process is very similar to a blood transfusion.

The plasma will then be used for cases at all Nuvance Health hospitals, as well as stored for future use. More info is available on the Nuvance Health website.