A study conducted by the Transfusion Medicine Department of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has reported that the antibodies among the COVID-19 survivors above 50 years of age are depleting at a quick rate. The report further found that survivors in all the age groups, who were symptomatic for just one day, had stronger and more lasting antibodies in comparison to those who were symptomatic for more than a day. These two conclusions based on 800 COVID-19 survivors who had come in for plasma donation after recovering from the contagious virus, are up for extensive research.
Out of 800 plasma donors, 400 were found unfit for donation
As per the head of the Transfusion Medicine, Prof Tulika Chandra, the department conducted the study during the course of collecting plasma from COVID-19 patients, post-recovery, for the blood and plasma bank.
However, out of 800 plasma donors, 400 were found unfit for donation. While 50 of them were found to be either anaemic, underweight or HIV positive along with other complications, 70 had contact history but they never tested positive through RT-PCR method. About 53 were found unfit because they had come after the lapse of three-month post-recovery period prescribed for donation.
The remaining 227 donors out of 400 ‘unfit’ donors were such who fulfilled all the criteria; they had confirmed positive, their post-recovery period was below three months and they had no other disqualification. But their plasma was not taken because antibodies were either not present or were in insufficient quantity.
Antibodies in plasma were both ‘efficient and sufficient’ in the fit donors
Prof. Tulika Chandra stated, “A majority of such donors, both male and females, were above 50 years of age. We do not know yet whether antibodies were not formed at all or only short-acting antibodies were formed in these cases, but the result suggests that the threat of re-infection might be higher in people above 50 years.”
Further, the study reported that the ‘quality and quantity’ of antibodies among the 400 fit donors were better in COVID-19 survivors who were symptomatic for a day in comparison to those who had symptoms for more days.
Prof. Chandra even said that these findings need more research to explain the phenomenon responsible for it, before settling for any final conclusion. Besides, the study also found that antibodies in the plasma were both ‘efficient and sufficient’ in the fit donors who had come for donation within 12 to 53 days, after recovering from the virus.
Uttar Pradesh COVID-19 update
As yet, the state has reported 5,70,791 confirmed coronavirus patients and 5,44,503 have also battled the virus successfully. UP’s fatality figure is marked at 8,138 whereas the number of active cases currently stands at 18,150. On the other hand, the capital city, Lucknow has clocked a total tally of 75,809 confirmed COVID-19 cases and till now, 71,871 have recovered as well. As of 17th of December, the state has conducted 2,19,99,031 tests to detect the novel coronavirus.