14 persons with previous COVID-19 diagnosis have been tested, and 12 showed high antibody titers.

Kazan Federal University is a part of a program of plasma donor research to treat coronavirus infections. The other members of the consortium are Kazan State Medical University, Republican Blood Center, and Republican Clinical Hospital.

As program coordinator, Professor Albert Rizvanov noted, donors (persons with previous COVID-19 diagnoses) donate approximately 600 ml of plasma for research. It’s enough to help three patients with grave cases of COVID-19. The current antibody titer level for donorship is 1:160, and 12 of the tested individuals showed levels above this threshold and up to 1:640.

The KFU’s test system detects antibodies that bind with the coronavirus’s S-protein, the very thing that gives the virus its characteristic crown-shaped appearance. Antibodies can prevent the virus from interacting with cells.

So far, 5 patients have received plasma treatment at the Republican Clinical Hospital, informed Rizvanov. They went through procedures without any complications and are progressing well.

Other hospitals are on track to using the same treatment method, and new donors are sought to contribute to the plasma bank.

Source text: Rufina Gimaletdinova

Photo: Alexander Kuznetsov

Translation: Yury Nurmeev