As part of efforts to develop a treatment in the fight against coronavirus, DoD wants to collect more than 8,000 units of plasma from individuals who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and are now symptom-free.

It’s unclear whether convalescent plasma therapy will prove effective against the virus, but the plasma does hold antibodies that could help fight off infection.

To donate, individuals must have documented evidence of COVID-19 infection (a diagnostic test at the time of illness or a serology/antibody test after recovery) and be:

• In good overall health.
• Symptom-free for at least 14 days before the donation. A negative test is not necessary.
• At least 17 years old and at least 110 pounds.

Other criteria may apply, and women who have been pregnant may require additional testing, per a Health.mil website outlining the donation program.

That site also includes an updated list of Armed Services Blood Donor Centers collecting the plasma. As of July 8, the list included locations on Guam and at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, along with locations in nine states:

• California: Naval Medical Center San Diego Blood Donor Center
• Georgia: Kendrick Memorial Blood Center at Fort Gordon; Sullivan Memorial Blood Center at Fort Benning.
• Hawaii: Tripler Army Medical Center Blood Donor Center
• Maryland: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Blood Services)
• Mississippi: Keesler Air Force Base Blood Donor Center
• North Carolina: Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center
• Texas: Fort Bliss Blood Donor Center; Robertson Blood Center at Fort Hood; two locations at Joint Base San Antonio (Akeroyd Blood Donor center at Fort Sam Houston, Blood Donor Center at Lackland)
• Virginia: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Blood Donor Center
• Washington: Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Pacific Northwest at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Other donation locations at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, may come online by early July, according to the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) website.

Those interested in participating can find contact information for their nearest ASBP center here.