Convalescent plasma could be an effective treatment for coronavirus, says Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia.
“Scientists and physicians around the world are racing to find new treatments for COVID-19,” Farrugia said during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.”
“The convalescent plasma initiative is one of these options.”
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced that the Mayo Clinic will serve as the lead institution to deliver convalescent plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients.
Convalescent plasma therapy involves the transfusion of certain components from the blood of people who have had the coronavirus and recovered into people who are very sick with the virus or people who are at high risk of getting the virus.
“Those antibodies can neutralize the virus or cause an immune response,” Farrugia said.
Mayo Clinic on Monday also released a serology test that uses a patient’s blood to analyze antibodies and determine whether the patient has been exposed to the virus.
“We need to answer a question that has been posed many, many times: How many people in this country have been exposed, infected with COVID-19? The serology test allows us to answer that question,” Farrugia said.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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