Context-China has developed convalescent plasma to treat patients who are infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the China National Biotec Group.

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• As the disease develops, the body has already begun developing antibodies against the virus.
• Antibodies in the plasma bind to the virus and prevent them from entering the cells. People who have recovered from COVID-19 disease would have antibodies against the virus.
• Infusing the antibodies to critically ill patients is expected to improve the chances of survival.
• The plasma that is transfused contains the antibodies.
• The company had collected plasma from some recovered patients to prepare therapeutic products including convalescent plasma and immune globulin.
• This is not the first time that plasma from recovered patients has been used to treat people infected with certain viruses for which drugs are not available.
• When Ebola struck Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in 2014, the World Health Organization prioritised the evaluation of treatment with convalescent plasma derived from patients who have recovered from the disease.