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A comment on WHO launches global megatrial of the four most promising coronavirus treatments. Parent comment

Re:WHO launches global megatrial of the four most promising ... by amluto on Monday March 23, 2020 @10:55AM (#22664661)
It can’t be done effectively during exponential growth at the current rate: there simply aren’t enough identified recovered patients to supply serum to the currently sick patients. If the exponential rate decreases a bit, maybe.

FWIW, it seems at least plausible to me that a recovered patient who was treated with serum may not generate as many protective antibodies as a naturally recovered patient. For example, Rh antibodies are used during pregnancy specifically to prevent an immune response. I don’t know if this would apply to COVID-19 or if giving serum only after symptoms become severe would prevent this outcome.

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Re:WHO launches global megatrial of the four most promising ... by nil-sec on Monday March 23, 2020 @11:25AM (#22664972)
See my reply to your original comment. Exponential growth isn’t a valid reason for this to not work. The factor of recovered vs currently Ill patients is constant, exponential growth or not. This factor may be high and I assume this is what you mean but given the (relatively small) percentage of critically ill and the fact that some countries are further along this is not a clear disqualifying argument against serum.
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