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Glatt TN, Hilton C, Nyoni C, Swarts A, Swanevelder R, Cowley J, Mmenu C, Moyo-Gwete T, Moore PL, Kutama M, Jaza J, Phayane I, Brits T, Koekemoer J, Jentsch U, Nelson D, van den Berg K, Vermeulen M. Rapid and Successful Implementation of a COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Programme-The South African Experience. Viruses 2021; 13:2050. [PMID: 34696480 PMCID: PMC8539971 DOI: 10.3390/v13102050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been considered internationally as a treatment option for COVID-19. CCP refers to plasma collected from donors who have recovered from and made antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. To date, convalescent plasma has not been collected in South Africa. As other investigational therapies and vaccination were not widely accessible, there was an urgent need to implement a CCP manufacture programme to service South Africans. METHODS The South African National Blood Service and the Western Cape Blood Service implemented a CCP programme that included CCP collection, processing, testing and storage. CCP units were tested for SARS-CoV-2 Spike ELISA and neutralising antibodies and routine blood transfusion parameters. CCP units from previously pregnant females were tested for anti-HLA and anti-HNA antibodies. RESULTS A total of 987 CCP units were collected from 243 donors, with a median of three donations per donor. Half of the CCP units had neutralising antibody titres of >1:160. One CCP unit was positive on the TPHA serology. All CCP units tested for anti-HLA antibodies were positive. CONCLUSION Within three months of the first COVID-19 diagnosis in South Africa, a fully operational CCP programme was set up across South Africa. The infrastructure and skills implemented will likely benefit South Africans in this and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Nadia Glatt
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
| | - Caroline Hilton
- Medical Division, Western Cape Blood Service, Cape Town 7405, South Africa;
| | - Cynthia Nyoni
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
| | - Avril Swarts
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
| | - Ronel Swanevelder
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
| | - James Cowley
- Operations Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (J.C.); (C.M.); (M.K.); (J.J.); (I.P.); (M.V.)
| | - Cordelia Mmenu
- Operations Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (J.C.); (C.M.); (M.K.); (J.J.); (I.P.); (M.V.)
| | - Thandeka Moyo-Gwete
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa; (T.M.-G.); (P.L.M.)
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Penny L. Moore
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa; (T.M.-G.); (P.L.M.)
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Munzhedzi Kutama
- Operations Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (J.C.); (C.M.); (M.K.); (J.J.); (I.P.); (M.V.)
| | - Jabulisile Jaza
- Operations Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (J.C.); (C.M.); (M.K.); (J.J.); (I.P.); (M.V.)
| | - Itumeleng Phayane
- Operations Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (J.C.); (C.M.); (M.K.); (J.J.); (I.P.); (M.V.)
| | - Tinus Brits
- Information Technology Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (T.B.); (J.K.)
| | - Johan Koekemoer
- Information Technology Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (T.B.); (J.K.)
| | - Ute Jentsch
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
| | - Derrick Nelson
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
| | - Karin van den Berg
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (C.N.); (A.S.); (R.S.); (U.J.); (D.N.); (K.v.d.B.)
- Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South Africa
- Division of Clinical Haematology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
| | - Marion Vermeulen
- Operations Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa; (J.C.); (C.M.); (M.K.); (J.J.); (I.P.); (M.V.)
- Division of Clinical Haematology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
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