Vol 55, No 3 (2024)
Original research article
Published online: 2024-06-30

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Evaluation of serological and hematological parameters in donors of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma of respect to time periods of donation

Marta Stanek1, Anna Leśków2, Małgorzata Szymczyk-Nużka1, Anita Wojciechowska-Chorębała1, Dorota Diakowska2
Acta Haematol Pol 2024;55(3):157-167.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the health and lives of many people worldwide. According to World Health Organization (WHO) global data, 774 million cases of COVID-19 and 7.04 million COVID-19 deaths have been reported. Many people are still struggling with the consequences of infection with SARS-CoV-2. In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the pathophysiology of the new SARS-CoV-2 virus and establishing effective therapies became the priority. Due to the lack of dedicated treatment against SARS-CoV-2 and the limited availability of antiviral drugs, Poland was one of many countries that decided to start convalescent plasma therapy. Many COVID-19 convalescents have decided to donate whole blood and plasma.

Material and methods: In our study, we examined how the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies changed up to 120 days after suffering from COVID-19 and developing a primary immune response, and whether the hematological parameters of convalescent donors changed significantly during this time. The study group consisted of 394 blood donors whose serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were analyzed via ELISA IgG assay. Additionally, hematological parameters were determined in whole blood samples.

Results: Our research shows that in blood donors who recovered from COVID-19, and whose initial anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were high, these high levels persisted even to the 120th day after the onset of the disease. Also, the hematological parameters remain normal, enabling safe blood donation for the donor and the recipient despite the previous presence of COVID-19.

Conclusions: These results can be used to optimize the parameters qualifying donors to donate convalescent plasma in the event of the future emergence of new infectious agents with significant infectivity and mortality.

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