Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of COVID-19: Protocol for access and use in Venezuela

Abstract

China, there was an unusual increase in cases of a fast-progressing acute respiratory infection with high fatality rate. Soon after, the causing agent is identified, a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, and a new disease, COVID-19 is characterized. Currently, in the absence of specific, effective and safe treatments, it is justified to explore all scientifically based alternatives available to us, such as the use of Convalescent Plasma (PC-CoV19) as acoadjutant
treatment of COVID-19.Plasma from patients who have recovered from an infectious disease, Convalescent Plasma, has been used in the treatment of other infectious disease. There is recent history of its use in diseases caused by another type of coronavirus, and clinical experiences and studies have already been published with preliminary results during this pandemic. Quimbiotec, a Venezuelan State public company that produces blood
products and recombinant drugs, and Banco Municipal de Sangre, defined a protocol to promote conditions for
aphaeresis, processing, conservation, storage, distribution, transfusion, and evaluation of safety and efficacy
of PC-CoV19 as an alternative for the treatment of COVID-19 in Venezuela. This protocol includes identification of capacities, physical structure, equipment and skills, talent, professionals needed, as well as a definition of processes to establish controlled and auditable routines to lay the foundations for access and use of PC-CoV19
in the Venezuela Health System, and prepare the design and implementation of clinical studies. The protocol and currently critical points in its implementation, as well as tools and strategies used for its solution, are presented.