Plasma therapy

Why in news?

• Recently published findings on convalescent plasma therapy on Covid-19 patients have triggered a debate over its efficacy.

What is plasma therapy?

• Plasma is the liquid part of the blood.
• Convalescent plasma, extracted from the blood of patients recovering from an infection, is a source of antibodies against the infection.
• The therapy involves using their plasma to help others recover from diseases like Covid-19.
• The donor would have to be a documented case of Covid-19 and healthy for 28 days since the last symptoms

What are the trial findings?

• ICMR conducted a randomised controlled trial called PLACID in 39 hospitals spread across 14 states and Union Territories and representing 25 cities.
• While use of convalescent plasma seemed to improve resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue in patients with moderate Covid-19, this did not translate into a reduction in 28-day mortality or progression to severe disease.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Which of the following terms, recently in news, are related to detection of Covid-19 infections:
1.FELUDA
2.COVIRAP
3.Sputnik V
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1,2 and 3

Answer to prelims question: