The Stoop HQ of Harlequins has become a temporary blood plasma donation centre allowing survivors of the virus to donate the vital antibodies within their blood plasma, which can be used to help treat patients suffering from the virus.

Building upon the Club's established relationship with the NHS as a blood donation centre over the last two and a half years, the King's Bar in the East Stand has been transformed into a fully-equipped donation site, where both the donation and plasma separation processes will take place over the next two months.

Quins staff are helping the NHS to help support the process, with the capacity to host 40-50 donors per day.

"We are extremely proud to be able to directly support the NHS at this challenging time" said Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple.

"I think everyone's gut instinct during this pandemic has been to find some way of helping the fight against the virus; as a Club, we have partnered with the Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, while our players, staff and supporters have all been actively fund raising, promoting and supporting the NHS through this partnership and local activities".

"To be able to build upon our long-standing relationship as a blood donation centre over the last two and a half years and be part of a larger programme, aiming to improve treatment for those hospitalised with the virus, is something we as a Club draw immense pride from."

Donations are part of a trial run by NHSBT (NHS Blood and Transplant). If the trial is successful, plasma will be supplied to hospitals at a large scale.

NHSBT found plasma antibody levels that were high enough for potentially lifesaving transfusions were more likely to come from recovered COVID-19 patients who were:

* Men

• People aged over 35
• People who were ill enough to have to be treated in hospital

NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging people recovered from COVID-19 and who fall into one or more of these three groups, and who live near one of NHSBT's 23 donor centres and temporary venues such as The Stoop, to offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23 or completing an online form.

Prof David Roberts, NHS Blood and Transplant's Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation, said: "We thank Harlequins for partnering with us and donations made at The Stoop could save lives.

"If you have recovered from a coronavirus infection, fall into any one of the these groups, and live near or could travel to The Stoop or one of our 23 donor centres, please contact us on 0300 123 23 23 or via our 23 donor centres, please contact us on 0300 123 23 23 or via our website.

"Please help your NHS fight COVID-19. Convalescent plasma donation is safe and easy. If you get the call, please donate."

Notes

What is convalescent plasma?

Convalescent plasma is the antibody rich plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19, which can be given to people who are struggling to develop an immune response to overcome the illness.

Although there is some evidence of patient benefit from the use of convalescent plasma, the safety and effectiveness of convalescent plasma transfusions needs to be confirmed by a robust clinical trial.

The trial is being carried out through NHSBT's Clinical Trials Unit, led by Dr Lise Estcourt. There has never been a full randomised control trial of the potential benefits of convalescent plasma for any virus.

Collection programme and treatment

NHSBT is leading a major programme on behalf of the Government to collect convalescent plasma for a major trial, and if the trial is successful, widespread use in hospitals.

Each donor donates two units and each patient receives two units. Transfusions have started although the effectiveness of plasma treatment will not be known until the trial finishes. Results are expected in the late summer. Convalescent plasma can also be frozen and stored ahead of any second wave of infection.

To enable large scale collection, plasma will be collected at the 23 donor centres and collected in temporary donation spaces. 21 nurses from Superdrug are volunteering in collection teams.

There is a particular need for people to come forward as donors in Manchester, London and Birmingham.

NHSBT's 23 donor centres are in London (Tooting, Edgware, West End), Manchester (Plymouth Grove and Norfolk House), Cambridge, Luton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leicester, Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle, Lancaster, Liverpool, Stoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford, Southampton, Poole and Plymouth.