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>> WE REALLY DO WANT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS. >> INSIDE THE RUSH TO HELP CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS IS VERSITI BLOOD CENTERS. >> FOCUSING ON THE USE OF PLASMA TO HELP THE SICK WITH COVID-19. >> MEDICAL DIRECTOR DAN WAXMAN SAYS THEY’RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FO PLAS DONATIONS FROM RECOVERED COVID-19 PATIENTS, LIKE DOCTOR DAVE LAL AT CHILDREN’S WHO DONATED HIS. >> THERE IS A HUGE NEED IN MILWAUKEE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR NOVEL THERAPIES TO GET BETTER. >> THE DONATED PLASMA WOULD BE USED BY HOSPITALS TO TREAT THE MOST SEVERE PATIENTS. >> YOU ARE TAKING SOMEBODY WHO HAD AN INFECTION, TAKING THEIR ANTIBODIES AND GIVING THEM TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO CAN USE AN EXTRA BOOST OF ANTIBODY, SO TO SPEAK. >> DR. WAXMAN SAYS PLASMA DONATIONS HAVE BEEN USED IN THIS WAY HELP PATIENTS BEFORE, INCLUDING DURING THE SPANI FLU, SARS, AND SWINE FLU PANDEMICS. IN ALL THREE SITUATIONS, THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE IT MIGHT WORK, OK? IT IS NOT A PROVEN TREATMENT. THAT IS WHY IT IS AN INVESTIGATIONAL DRUG. >> IN MILWAUKEE, CHERNEY AMHARA, WISN 12 NEWS. JOYCE: THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 866-702-4673. TO DONATE PLASMA, YOU MUST BE SYMPTOM FREE FOR 28 DAYS AND BE PROVEN TO HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST IN YOU

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COVID-19 survivors may hold the key to helping other patients with the virus."We really do want to stop the spread of this virus," said Dr. Dan Waxman, medical director at Versiti Blood Center.Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin"Versiti Blood Center is focusing on the use of plasma infusion to patients who are very sick with COVID-19," Waxman said. Waxman said they're looking specifically for plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients, such as Dr. Dave Lal at Children's Wisconsin who donated his."There is a huge need of sick patients in Milwaukee and throughout the country that need some type of novel therapies to get better," Lal said. The donated plasma would be used by hospitals to treat the most severe patients."You're taking someone who had an infection, taking their antibodies and giving them to another person who could use an extra boost of antibody so to speak," Waxman said.Waxman said plasma donations have been used in this way help patients before, including during the Spanish flu and swine flu pandemics. "In all three situations, there was some evidence it might work. It's not a proven treatment that's why it's an investigational drug," Waxman said. The number to call is 866-702-4673.To donate plasma, you must be symptom-free for 28 days and be proven to have a negative test in your bloodstream.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube