HELP! I have a family member in Orange County, CA on a vent in critical condition for #COVID19. We are urgently seeking a person who has recovered from #coronavirus infxn w/ no symptoms in past 14d & able to donate plasma asap. Irvine/Tustin or LA area. DM me w/ leads. Pls RT.
Tweet #2: Thank you SO MUCH for your kindness! I'm getting many Qs, so answering them here for efficiency. People are asking what criteria they need to meet to donate plasma & which patients with #COVID19 can get plasma & how. See here: bit.ly/2WK2NT9. 
Tweet #3: Others are asking if the donor has to be where the recipient is. The answer is no unless there is time urgency to get the product to the pt. Blood products are routinely collected at blood drives & shipped where the need is, but that does introduce a delay. #COVID19
Tweet #4: I am so touched by how many ppl want to donate plasma. Whether you can donate to my family member at this time, you can help by donating blood products in gen'l. We current have a huge blood shortage nationally. Go here to make an appt: redcross.org/give-blood.html #COVID19
Tweet #5: We made this appeal b/c there is not yet a trial open there of convalescent plasma (i.e. plasma transfusion from someone recovered from #SARSCoV2 #COVID19). Trials are the best way to access new treatments still under study. They're coming: ccpp19.org.
Tweet #6: Here you can learn more about why researchers are studying use of convalescent plasma for #COVID19: bit.ly/3duKtDc. It's not a new idea. It's been tried for many past virus infxns (Spanish Flu >100 yrs ago, SARS, MERS, H1N1 flu, etc) w/ benefit in some pts.
Tweet #7: So what even IS plasma & what does donating it involve? It's the yellow liquid in your blood w/ proteins to control bleeding & fight infxn. Donors are connected x ~1 hr to a machine that collects the plasma & returns red cells to the body. You can donate once/month.
Tweet #8: Plasma is important all the time, not just during #COVID19 too. It is used in trauma and burn victims, people who have certain disorders that make them high risk for bleeding or infection, & other things. It is always needed, as are all blood products.
Tweet #9: I have to get back to trying to help my family, but this was some #MedEd to thank you all. We are truly touched. If you're bored in #QuarantineLife or feeling like you want to help somehow w/ #COVID19, pls make an appt & donate blood products: bit.ly/2QKi1DR.🙏
