The country's health authorities have explained how Convalescent Plasma Therapy, which is being used by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to treat Covid-19 patients in Qatar, works.
This has been illustrated through an infographic posted on the social media pages of the Ministry of Public Health, HMC and Primary Health Care Corporation.


Convalescent Plasma Therapy involves taking plasma obtained from people who have recovered from Covid-19 and transfusing it into patients who are currently battling the virus, the infographic states.
As a person fights the Covid-19 virus, the body produce antibodies to attack it. "These antibodies are secreted by immune cells known as B lymphocytes. These are found in plasma - the liquid part of blood - which helps the blood clot and increases immunity," the infographic points out.
Once a person recovers, the antibodies stay in the body to fight the virus if it returns.
On how much plasma is needed for each patient, the infographic says "plasma from one recovered patient can be used to treat two infected patients, and one transfusion is enough to see results".
Anyone who has recovered from Covid-19 can donate plasma.
"The treatment is being used on Covid-19 patients in Qatar. A Plasma Donation Center has been set up at the Communicable Disease Center," it adds.