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| The efficacy of plasma-based treatment is not yet proven. But scientists hope the antibody-rich plasma, collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19, will boost patients' immune response to the virus. |
By Park Si-soo
South Korea is set to explore a fresh way of treating coronavirus patients with plasma extracted from people who have recovered from the virus-driven illness.
Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the method will be used to treat critically ill patients.
It was introduced in 2015 when Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) hit the country, helping the recovery of nine patients, Kwon said.
He said China had reported successful treatment of cases with this method.
"In the absence of a scientifically proven treatment for coronavirus, this can be an option to treat patients in critical condition," Kwon said.
The efficacy of plasma-based treatment is not yet proven. But scientists hope the antibody-rich plasma, collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19, will boost patients' immune response to the virus.
Iran began using the blood plasma treatment last week. The United States launched its first experimental plasma therapy at a hospital in Texas on March 31, according to reports.
