CRBS

Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System, including hospitals in Auburn and Covington, has another treatment option for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

The Expanded Access Program for Convalescent Plasma, led by the Mayo Clinic, is for COVID-19 patients who have or are at risk of severe or life-threatening disease, according to a MultiCare news release on Monday. Patients who choose this treatment get a transfusion of plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19, or “convalescents,” and have since tested negative. The donor plasma contains antibodies that can attack the virus, and early studies have shown that it may help patients recover faster.

The first three MultiCare patients to get donor plasma were treated April 18.

“We are treating those who are faring the worst first,” said Dr. Scott Meehan Jr., the program’s primary investigator for MultiCare’s Puget Sound region hospitals.

TACOMA, Wash., April 29, 2020 — Washington was the first epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., and Pierce County was among the earliest and hardest hit. Now it’s at the forefront of the race for new treatments and vaccines, thanks in part to the work of Cascade Regional Blood Services.

Treatments depend on research of blood plasma donations from people who’ve recovered from COVID-19. The FDA is coordinating a national effort along with America’s Blood Centers to develop these treatments.

Convalescent COVID-19 plasma is not only being studied for its antibodies—the plasma itself may be administered as an emergency treatment for patients critically ill with the disease. The topic of convalescent blood plasma is highly likely to trend in coming weeks and months. Because our region was the earliest and hardest hit, we have the greatest number of recovered patients who can and are contributing.

In Pierce and South King Counties, Cascade Regional Blood Services (CRBS) is coordinating the local effort to collect convalescent plasma, which is then distributed through MultiCare hospitals and a national network called BioLinked to provide blood products for treatments and research.

Recovered COVID patients such as Alissa from Enumclaw have marched right back in to a donation center. “I donated plasma because I want to help others who are suffering with COVID-19. If my antibodies are the way I can pay it forward, I’m eager to take part. The biggest lesson in all of this for me is that even the hardest trials can become positive and meaningful when seen through a lens of potentially helping someone else.”

Donating blood and plasma is absolutely safe. If you or someone you know has tested positive for COVID-19 and has recovered, visit crbs.net or contact 1-800-24-BLOOD for more information on how to donate.

About Cascade Regional Blood Services
Cascade Regional Blood Services is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 independent blood center serving community hospitals and clinics in Western Washington since 1946. CRBS provides blood products, therapeutic apheresis services, and support to pharmaceutical partners. With a dedicated volunteer donor base, CRBS conducts over 1,000 blood drives a year and has three donor center locations, including a laboratory in their Tacoma headquarters.  For more than 25 years, research companies have looked to CRBS to support their individual and IRB endeavors through recruitment and specialized collections.  For more information, visit https://www.crbs.net/.

Media Assets
Photo of donor, Alissa: https://www.crbs.net/crbs_ccp_alissa/
Cascade Regional Blood Services logo: https://www.crbs.net/crbs-logo/

KIRO-7 NEWS ran a story about MultiCare encouraging eligible people who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma at Cascade Regional Blood Services.

Amanda Westbrook, from TV Tacoma’s CityLine speaks to Steve Freed, Laboratory Operations Manager for Cascade Regional Blood Services about why now is a safe and important time to give blood.

The FDA and blood center organizations come together to encourage blood donations, assuring people that donating blood is absolutely safe and direly needed.

“It is safe to donate blood. Part of preparedness includes a robust blood supply. Healthy individuals should schedule an appointment today to ensure that blood is available for patients who need it.” 

—Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D.
Assistant Secretary for Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Cascade Regional Blood Services awards four $500 scholarships each year to local high school and college students to educate and increase awareness of the need to give back to one’s community.

We’ve been featured in South Sound Talk for our annual Give Back Scholarship. Every year, Cascade Regional Blood Services awards four $500 scholarships to local high school and college students to educate and increase awareness of the need to give back to one’s community.

To apply, students must have completed 20+ hours of community service and prepare an essay of 500 words describing their experience. Applicants’ schools or colleges are expected to host a blood drive that year, with the help of Cascade Regional Blood Services. Applicants themselves are not required to donate blood; many volunteer at blood drives or at area hospitals.

The scholarship not only supports scholastic achievement, but promotes community involvement, particularly through blood donation.

In Pierce County, the blood supply is down by more than 40 percent, a depletion that could have dire consequences. All healthy adults should consider donating blood now.

The News Tribune reports that In Pierce County, blood supply is down by more than 40 percent, a dire situation for folks whose health depends on donated blood. All healthy adults should consider donating blood now.

More than 60 percent of blood donations come from blood drives at area high schools and colleges, but in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, those collection efforts have been canceled. More than 37 percent of Pierce County’s population is eligible to donate blood, but typically only 5 percent do. And now that number is down to 2 or 3 percent. 

Donating is absolutely safe right now, with no waiting in line and no contact except with the trained and protected person taking the blood. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and help.

Amid fears surrounding the pandemic, Cascade Regional Blood Services wants to assure you that it is completely safe to donate blood—and that your donation is absolutely vital to save lives.

While news of the pandemic and related public health rules change daily, South Sound Talk reports that donating blood is safe. Cascade Regional Blood Services continues to follow rigid health and safety protocols. Donors are safe from infection both in attending blood drives and during the blood donation process itself.

To ensure that patients continue to receive life-saving treatments, healthy individuals are asked to continue to donate. As the coronavirus outbreak expands, our blood supply is affected—regionally and nationally—by the decrease in the number of eligible donors, and by the cancellation of collection drives.

The FDA reports that there have been no cases of the coronavirus spread through transfusion, and stringent screening and protection measures are in place.

We’ve been featured in featured in South Sound talk for our work to expand our donor bas to provide the specific blood products needed for Sickle Cell patients at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

Blood transfusion is one of the most critical sickle cell treatments and can lessen pain for the children and adults who live with sickle cell disease. Some sickle cell disease patients require transfusions as often as monthly – making the need for blood donations constant.

“Patients are not always scheduled in advance for transfusions. Like any emergency, it’s the blood on our shelves that makes the difference,” says Richard Freed, Laboratory Operations Manager at Cascade Regional Blood Services.

A dedicated Cascade Regional Blood Services nurse case manager ensures children with sickle cell disease get personalized care and the recommended tests and treatments they need.