Men must step up and donate their blood plasma to help defeat coronavirus, NHS urges

Men must step up and donate their blood plasma to help defeat coronavirus, the NHS has urged, as it is revealed that women make up almost two thirds of donors.

Female patients are far more willing to provide samples and represent 63 per cent of all volunteers (73,369), compared with 37 per cent of male patients (42,809).

However, women's plasma is less valuable as men are three times more likely to produce a sample with a high quantity of antibodies, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).

The health service is now urging men who have had the virus to come forward to donate ahead of a possible second wave in the autumn.

Antibody-rich plasma can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response to the virus, potentially saving many lives.

Dr Lise Estcourt, head of NHSBT’s clinical trials unit, said: “We’re not sure yet why there is an imbalance in people coming forward but we do know we need more men to offer to donate. Men have a special role to play in fighting this virus. Men who’ve had coronavirus are more likely to be able to save lives.

“We’re urgently asking men who’ve had confirmed coronavirus or the symptoms to offer to donate and help us be prepared for any second wave of Covid this autumn – you could save lives.”

NHSBT is collecting blood plasma samples at 23 donor centres and five pop-up centres around the country.

It takes around 45 minutes and the patient's body usually replaces the donated plasma in up to 48 hours.

Around 230 Covid-19 patients have received plasma transfusions so far. Preliminary trial results are expected later this year.

Paul Carey Jones, a 46-year-old opera singer, donated blood plasma in Tooting, south London.

He said: “I had a persistent cough in late March which progressed over the next few weeks to shortness of breath, a constant high fever, and more. I was pretty much confined to bed or the sofa for 2-3 weeks.

“I offered to donate on the website because I was fairly sure I’d had it. My partner had tested positive around the same time.

“Our whole industry has been in complete lockdown since mid-March, so it feels empowering to be able to play a part in some small way."

If you’ve had confirmed coronavirus or the symptoms, you can volunteer to donate plasma at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk