Community Health Network announces COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project

Indianapolis—Community Health Network announced it is working with Versiti Blood Center of Indiana on a program to collect convalescent plasma from patients recovered from coronavirus infection.

Convalescent plasma (CP) is plasma that has been obtained from people who have recovered from a disease and contains antibodies to the disease. Use of CP has been studied in outbreaks of respiratory infections, including the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, the 2009 HINI influenza virus pandemic, and the 2012 MERS-Co-V epidemic and has appeared to be beneficial for the treatment of these diseases. Preliminary evidence suggests COVID Convalescent Plasma (CCP) may benefit some patients with COVID-19 leading to improvement.

Versiti Blood Center of Indiana has been approved as a collection center for CCP, but it needs help identifying people who qualify for donation. Criteria for those wishing to donate include:

• Documented positive COVID-19 test and 28 days since last symptom
• Documented positive COVID-19 test and a negative COVID-19 test and 14-27 days since last symptom
• COVID-19 diagnosis based on symptoms, but no documented COVID-19 test (may be eligible for CCP donation in near future)

On April 10, Dr. Sarah Dilley, a Community Health Network gynecologic oncologist, was the first CCP donor in the state of Indiana. That same day, two Community patients received plasma from Dr. Dilley’s donation. On May 16, Community Health Network President and CEO Bryan Mills donated plasma.

More information about becoming a donor can be found at eCommunity.com/covid19plasma.

Contact: Kris Kirschner, kkirschner@eCommunity.com, 317-621-7073

About Community Health Network
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Now with more than 16,000 caregivers and 200 sites of care, Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of healthcare services, world-class innovations and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit healthcare destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.