Ballad Health partners with Mayo Clinic for COVID-19 research study

Ballad Health has announced a partnership with Mayo Clinic to conduct a national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) research study.

The study will examine convalescent plasma as an experimental treatment for COVID-19, as some data indicates patients with COVID-19 might be able to fight off the virus by receiving antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.

We are now in need of donor plasma from patients who have tested positive and recovered from COVID-19 – more than 28 days out from their diagnosis and doing well, or 14 days out, asymptomatic and have been retested with a negative result.

The patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are thought to have developed antibodies to COVID-19 that might help sick patients combat their COVID-19 infections, and we want to offer this therapy. Each unit donated has the potential to help at least two patients who are currently and hospitalized with COVID-19.

Samples will be collected at Marsh Regional Blood Center in Kingsport, with plans to expand to Johnson City and Bristol soon. The blood center can be contacted at (423) 408-7500 or by visiting the Marsh website.

For up-to-date information about the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit our COVID-19 page.