The world’s largest clinical trial of a potential treatment for COVID-19 is underway across Canada.
According to the Globe and Mail, the study will involve 1,000 patients from across the country and include blood transfusion experts from at least 40 Canadian hospitals.
The experimental treatment involves injecting antibody-rich plasma from patients who have recovered from the virus into people who are currently infected.
Donating plasma is no different than a conventional blood donation.
Dr. Donald Arnold, a hematologist at McMaster University who is leading the trial, says “The theory is that people who have recovered from COVID infection may have antibodies to fight the virus.”
There are hopes the trial could be completed in as little as three months.