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Review
. 2021 May;100(5):1115-1122.
doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04441-y. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

COVID-19 pandemic and transfusion medicine: the worldwide challenge and its implications

Layal Al Mahmasani #  1 , Mohammad Hassan Hodroj #  1 , Antoine Finianos  2 , Ali Taher  3
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 pandemic and transfusion medicine: the worldwide challenge and its implications

Layal Al Mahmasani et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 May.

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has imposed worldwide challenge and has significantly affected transfusion medicine. Shortage in blood products along with concerns regarding the safety of blood products have emerged. Measures to overcome these challenges have been implemented in order to decrease the demand on blood products and to encourage blood donations while taking full precautions to minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission mainly at blood banks and medical centers. Several countries have been successful in facing these new challenges. In addition, the role of plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases, has been proposed and current studies are being conducted to determine its efficacy. Other therapeutic options are currently being explored. So far, the use of convalescent plasma is considered a promising rescue treatment to be looked at.

Keywords: Blood safety; COVID-19; Plasma therapy; Shortage; Transfusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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