PMI-Eijkman Develops Blood Plasma To Help Cure COVID-19

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) together with the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology are planning to develop blood plasma to help cure COVID-19. Plasma is a fluid from the blood that has been separated from the blood droplets.

"Just signed the MoU with the Eijkman institution, with the Professor for the management of blood plasma. This is one way of treating (COVID-19)," said PMI Chairman Muhammad Jusuf Kalla (JK) in South Jakarta, Wednesday, April 15.

Director of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology Amin Soebandrio explained that blood plasma that can help cure positive COVID-19 patients belongs to people who have recovered from the corona virus.

This blood plasma can be taken from the body after 2 to 4 weeks of a person who has recovered. "Plasma contains antibodies which are very good for neutralizing the virus. It is hoped that this will help accelerate the healing of patients who are in severe condition," said Amin.

Actually, it does not mean that there are patients who do not have antibodies to fight the invading virus. It's just that, said Amin, the process of recognizing antibodies against antigens varies.

By using the patient's blood plasma to recover, it can trigger an increase in a person's antibodies and help heal faster.

"We use antibodies that are already in the plasma of patients who have recovered to fight the virus in patients who are sick. Given that, waiting for the vaccine (discovery) is a bit long," said Amin.

Here, PMI plays a role in drawing the patient's blood to be converted into blood plasma. In addition, PMI also has an official plasma harvesting device.

"Of course, this must also be protected by ethical protection, patient consent, and so on. So, after processing this plasma, after it is confirmed that it is free from viruses and so on, it will be given to patients," he explained.

For information, the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia is still increasing. Based on data as of April 15, there were 297 new positive cases found and a total of 5,136 patients.

Then, for cured cases, there were also an additional 20 people, which if counted nationally was 446 patients.

Meanwhile, for cases of death, the increase that occurred was quite low, with a total of 10 people. Thus, a total of 469 patients were declared dead due to COVID-19.