As countries exploring plasma therapy to treat severe COVID-19 patients, Microsoft is launching a plasmabot initiative to encourage people who have been recovered from the deadly disease to donate their plasma.
Several studies have begun in different parts of the world to test the effectiveness of convalescent plasma therapy in treating COVID-19 patients.
The idea behind this therapy is that immunity can be transferred from a healthy person to a sick using convalescent plasma.
Convalescent plasma refers to plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients.
According to a CNBC report, Microsoft is working with a consortium of pharmaceutical companies to launch a “plasmabot” this weekend to reach out to people who wish to donate their plasma.
“The plasmabot will also provide information about the procedure and direct them to a nearby site where they can safely make the donation,” said the report.
In this therapy, blood is drawn from a person who has recovered from the disease and the serum is separated and screened for virus-neutralizing antibodies.
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When attacked by a pathogen, our immune systems produce antibodies and in this therapy, these antibodies from recovered patients are used to treat other sick people.
According to Microsoft’s head of research Peter Lee, “the goal is to recruit as much plasma as soon as possible”.
Microsoft is supporting the efforts of plasma alliance formed by companies like Octapharma, Takeda, CSL Behring, and others.
Lee said he believes the plasma therapy has the “potential to save lives.”
