<p>The World Health Organisation on Monday advised against using the blood plasma of patients who have recovered from Covid-19 to treat those who are ill, saying current evidence shows it neither improves survival nor reduces the need for ventilators.</p>.<p>The hypothesis for using plasma is that the antibodies it contains could neutralise the novel coronavirus, stopping it from replicating and halting tissue damage.</p>.<p>Several studies testing convalescent blood plasma have shown no apparent benefit for treating Covid-19 patients who are severely ill. A U.S.-based trial was halted in March after it was found that plasma was unlikely to help mild-to-moderate Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p>The method is also costly and time-consuming to administer, the WHO said in a statement on Monday.</p>.<p>A panel of international experts made a strong recommendation against the use of convalescent plasma in patients with non-severe illness, the WHO said. They also advised against its use in patients with severe and critical illness, except in the context of a randomised controlled trial.</p>.<p>The recommendation, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), is based on evidence from 16 trials involving 16,236 patients with non-severe, severe and critical Covid-19 infection.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>The World Health Organisation on Monday advised against using the blood plasma of patients who have recovered from Covid-19 to treat those who are ill, saying current evidence shows it neither improves survival nor reduces the need for ventilators.</p>.<p>The hypothesis for using plasma is that the antibodies it contains could neutralise the novel coronavirus, stopping it from replicating and halting tissue damage.</p>.<p>Several studies testing convalescent blood plasma have shown no apparent benefit for treating Covid-19 patients who are severely ill. A U.S.-based trial was halted in March after it was found that plasma was unlikely to help mild-to-moderate Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p>The method is also costly and time-consuming to administer, the WHO said in a statement on Monday.</p>.<p>A panel of international experts made a strong recommendation against the use of convalescent plasma in patients with non-severe illness, the WHO said. They also advised against its use in patients with severe and critical illness, except in the context of a randomised controlled trial.</p>.<p>The recommendation, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), is based on evidence from 16 trials involving 16,236 patients with non-severe, severe and critical Covid-19 infection.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>