Convalescent plasma therapy

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Mayo Clinic's approach

Collaboration

Mayo Clinic joined with medical centers across the U.S. to collect plasma from people who had recovered from COVID-19. Mayo Clinic coordinated this government-sponsored program.

Team approach

Mayo doctors from many areas work together to study potential treatments for COVID-19. Team member specialties include:

  • Infectious diseases.
  • Laboratory medicine and pathology.
  • Blood collection and testing (transfusion medicine).
  • Pharmacy.
  • Virus studies (virology).
  • Cardiovascular diseases.
  • Primary Care.
  • Department of Nursing.
  • Department of Pharmacy.
  • Infusion Therapy Centers.

Research

Mayo Clinic researchers are studying the virus that causes COVID-19 and how it affects the immune system. They're studying drugs and treatments for COVID-19 as well as working on diagnostic and antibody tests. Researchers are active in clinical trials for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Doctors & Departments
Dec. 30, 2025
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  1. Investigational COVID-19 convalescent plasma. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/investigational-covid-19-convalescent-plasma. Accessed March 24, 2025.
  2. Hoffman R, et al. Principles of plasma and plasma derivatives. In: Hematology. 8th edition. Elsevier. 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 24, 2025.
  3. Marano G, et al. Convalescent plasma: New evidence for an old therapeutic tool? Blood Transfusion. 2016; doi:10.2450/2015.0131-15.
  4. Emergency use authorization. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization. Accessed March 24, 2025.
  5. AskMayoExpert. COVID-19: Outpatient management. Convalescent Plasma. Mayo Clinic; 2025.
  6. Rajendran K, et al. Convalescent plasma transfusion for the treatment of COVID-19: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Virology. 2020; doi:10.1002/jmv.25961.
  7. Senefeld JW, et al. COVID-19 Convalescent plasma for the treatment of immunocompromised patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association: Network Open. 2023; doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.50647.
  8. COVID-19 treatments and medications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/treatment/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html#cdc_treatment_overview-covid-19-treatment-options. Accessed March 24, 2025.
  9. Kim AY et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Management in hospitalized adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 24, 2025.
  10. Infectious disease, HLA and ABO donor qualification testing. American Red Cross. https://www.redcrossblood.org/biomedical-services/blood-diagnostic-testing/blood-testing.html. Accessed March 24, 2025.
  11. Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. March 24, 2025.
  12. Whole Blood and blood components (Convalescent Plasma, High Titer, Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (Whole Blood-derived) and Apheresis Convalescent Plasma, High Titer, Anti-SARS-CoV-2). https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/whole-blood-and-blood-components-convalescent-plasma-high-titer-anti-sars-cov-2-whole-blood-derived. Accessed April 4, 2025.
  13. Dragotakes Q, et al. Estimates of actual and potential lives saved in the United States from the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2024; doi:10.1073/pnas.2414957121.

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Convalescent plasma therapy