COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) Transfusion

The research purpose is to evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of transfusing one unit of banked plasma obtained from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus SARS-C0V-2 infection with high titers of IgG antibody to this virus transfused into patients with severe or at high risk of progressing to severe coronavirus-induced disease (COVID-19). The research hypothesis is that COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusion improves outcomes in patients with COVID-19. The use of CCP to treat serious and life threatening COVID-19 has a sound biological as well as clinical rationale to provide virus-specific immune protection in patients unable to produce and/or maintain antiviral antibodies. This treatment protocol is designed primarily to offer a rescue therapy in patients with severe and life threatening disease and explore use in patients for whom a progression to serious disease is likely. Examining the specific antibody responses to the virus in transfused patients if/when they show signs of recovery and comparing these values with those obtained before the transfusion may provide information to design more extensive trials aimed at identifying the best patient population for future use of CCP.