Number of blood plasma donors going down, antibodies also decrease over time

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is facing a shortage of blood plasma just as the country is experiencing a surge in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In Howie Severino's report for "24 Oras," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario explained that this is partly due to the increase in demand, as more and more patients are in need of convalescent plasma therapy.

But he also said that the number of plasma donors has been decreasing over time despite their calls for recovered patients to donate their blood to help others fight the virus.

"Maaaring 'yung mga pasyente na nakarecover na sa COVID, ayaw pa nilang bumalik sa ospital," he said. "O malungkot o mahirap ang kanilang pinagdaanan so gusto muna nilang makalimot."

Del Rosario added that other people may simply be unaware of their campaign for blood donations or may have no means to get to the hospital amid the quarantine.

Severino himself attempted to donate his blood plasma for the second time since recovering from COVID-19. However, his donation was deferred due to lower level of antibodies.

Of the 20 prospective plasma donors during the last week, only one passed the standards of PGH.

READ: Who can donate blood to COVID-19 patients?

According to Dr. Mark Ang, Director of PGH Blood Bank, recovered patients must donate their blood within one month of getting cleared from the virus, the so-called "golden period."

This is because a study showed that the immunity developed by recovered COVID-19 patients may disappear within months, thus decreasing the pool of potential plasma donors.

"Pagkatapos po nito baka po by the time na mag-decide sila na magdo-donate sila, 'yung level ng antibodies ng kanilang katawan hindi na po sapat para mag-share sa ibang tao," Ang said. 

As of Wednesday, July 22, the Philippines has 72,269 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 23,623 recoveries and 1,843 deaths. —MGP, GMA News