UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND AMERICAN RED CROSS ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF ‘POP UP’ CONVALESCENT PLASMA DONATION SITE

University Hospital and the American Red Cross today announced the successful completion of the emergency COVID-19 convalescent plasma collection program at
University Hospital.

Over 335 convalescent plasma donations were collected at the temporary University Hospital donation site, between its opening on May 11th and its closing on June 26th. The site was opened to help address the emergent need that arose nationally for convalescent plasma in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. University Hospital was one of two emergency “pop up” collection sites
that were created with the Red Cross in New Jersey.

Convalescent plasma is collected from patients who have recovered from novel coronavirus in order to treat patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections. The
blood plasma from recovered patients contains antibodies that may help critically ill patients fight the virus. Historically, convalescent plasma has been used as a potentially life-saving treatment in situations when new diseases or infections develop quickly, and no treatments or vaccines were available yet. Over 100 COVID-19 patients at University Hospital have been treated with convalescent plasma.

“University Hospital was one of the first hospitals to receive FDA approval for convalescent plasma treatment and was proud to be at the forefront of this potentially life-saving treatment,”
said University Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “The number of donations that we have received speaks to the resiliency of our community, and its willingness to help others. It was an honor to join with the American Red Cross to step up at a time of urgent public need.”

“By hosting one of our emergency convalescent plasma collection sites over the past two months, University Hospital enabled us to identify more donors and better serve patients in need of this
therapy, said Red Cross New Jersey Region CEO Rosie Taravella. “In times of crisis, the Red Cross is fortunate to witness the best of humanity. We greatly appreciate the generosity of the public and those recovered COVID-19 patients who stepped up in an effort to help someone during this difficult time.”

The Red Cross will continue to collect convalescent plasma donations at its blood donation centers in Central and South New Jersey. If you are recovered from COVID-19 and are interested in making this special kind of donation, please register at RedCrossBlood.org/plasma4covid.