PLASMA

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Dr. John Whitehead and his husband, Dr. Alain Ramirez were both diagnosed with the new coronavirus disease in March. But they are unable to donate the convalescent plasma because they are gay and sexually active. Plasma donor creates website to help COVID-19 patients in needGay and bisexual men face U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s blood donation restrictions dating back to the 1980s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gay and bisexual men account for about 70% of new HIV infections in the U.S. each year. “We would all like to get our lives back together, but, we have to be safe.”Blood plasma requirements (Local 10 News)

Susan Forbes, a spokeswoman for OneBlood, said he was referring to convalescent plasma, which involves collecting blood from recovered COVID-19 patients. The Food and Drug Administration is facilitating access to the plasma for use in patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections. “We are not using a virus to induce immune response,” said Strbo, a microbiology professor. On March 20, the FDA granted expanded access to Bellerophon Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company that owns INOpulse, an inhaled nitric oxide delivery system. On Twitter, he refers to himself as a “Nitric Oxide Aficionado.” He is also on the front lines at Jackson Health’s intensive care units.