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Dental nurses who tested positive for COVID-19 could save lives

Dental teams in England who have tested positive for COVID-19 are being urged to become potential donors for the NHS convalescent plasma programme to help the recovery of others.

This is currently being used in clinical trials.

Leading the call is Birmingham dentist and newly elected BDA Chair, Eddie Crouch, who developed COVID-19 during lockdown, has fully recovered and has volunteered for the programme.

Baseline figures from a large-scale study at Birmingham University – covering over 1,500 dental team members across the Midlands – showed 16% of dentists, hygienists, therapists and dental nurses had COVID-19 antibodies prior to the resumption of face-to-face care on 8 June using enhanced PPE and new safety protocols. This compared to between 6-10% for the general population in the region.

Donated plasma is being transfused into people who are still unwell, and the antibodies could save lives, with the number of cases receiving donations quadrupling in the last month.

To sign up just visit the
NHSBT’s website. Donors need to:

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