33 fresh COVID-19 cases in Telangana; Plasma trials to begin

(Eds: Updates with details on plasma trials)

Hyderabad, May 10 () Telangana recorded 33 fresh casesof COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total number of thoseinfected by the virus to 1,196 in the state, as the state-runGandhi Hospital here is all set to carry out plasma therapytrials for coronavirus patients. The plasma trials will be conducted from Monday as perthe protocol of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),health officials said. "This is a clinical trial. There is no proven researchonplasma therapy.

So, this is a research study under theguidance of ICMR and as part of it bloodis obtained fromthose recovered from COVID-19," a doctor at the hospital said. "Depending on their (recovered patients) age group andhemoglobinper cent, and if they have any other complications,we will see all those andif they are fit then we willextract400 ml of blood from them," he said.

The therapy will be done for patients based on certainconditions such as lung capacity, he added. The therapy aims at transfusing plasma (component ofblood) containing antibodies donated by a recovered COVID-19patient to the serious coronavirus patients harbouring anactive infection.

According to a media bulletin on COVID-19, 33 new caseswere confirmed, of which 26 were from Greater HyderabadMunicipal Corporation limits and another seven cases weremigrants.

It said a total of 751 patients were discharged aftertreatment till date, however, no patient was discharged onSunday.

No deaths were reported on Sunday and the figure remainedat 30 in the state while the active cases stood at 415. VVK GDKROH ROH