Patient guide · Haematology & infectious diseases
Convalescent plasma therapy, borrowed antibodies for patients who cannot make their own.
A plain-English guide to passive antibody transfer — how convalescent plasma is collected, when it helps in 2026, when a monoclonal antibody or hyperimmune globulin is a better answer, and what happens during the transfusion itself.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Haematology and infectious diseases, consultant-led
A named consultant haematologist or infectious diseases physician runs the case — not a rotating junior. The decision to give plasma, and the alternative to it, is made by someone senior.
- 02
The alternative is always on the table
For most patients the answer is a monoclonal antibody, hyperimmune globulin or IVIG. We say so before plasma is drawn — plasma is a niche tool, not a default.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no hospital or blood service, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative cost
What passive antibody therapy costs privately in London.
Indicative ranges only — actual costs depend on the product, the number of units and the hospital. On the NHS these treatments are funded on clinical grounds without cost to the patient.
In short
A single unit of convalescent plasma privately: £1,200–£2,500, over roughly two to four hours.
| Treatment | Indicative range | Typical duration | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convalescent plasma — single unit (private) | £1,200–£2,500 | 2–4 hours | Same day |
| Convalescent plasma — two-unit course | £2,200–£4,500 | Two visits | Days apart |
| Specific hyperimmune globulin (where available) | £800–£3,000 | 1–2 hours | Same day |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) — per gram | £40–£90 | 3–6 hours | Same day |
| Monoclonal antibody infusion (where available) | £1,000–£4,000 | 30–90 min | Same day |
| Consultant review only | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Costs depend heavily on product availability, the number of units required and the consultant’s hospital. We confirm a firm figure once the case is reviewed and eligibility is agreed.
The problem
A very old treatment, misused during a very new pandemic.
Passive antibody transfer has helped patients since the 1890s — diphtheria antitoxin, Spanish flu, SARS, Ebola. In hospitalised COVID-19 patients, though, the RECOVERY trial showed no benefit. It still has a real, narrow role in select immunocompromised patients.
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Is it the right tool?
A monoclonal antibody or specific hyperimmune globulin is almost always preferred. A consultant tells you honestly if plasma is the right step at all.
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Is the titre high enough?
Only units with a measured high neutralising antibody titre are worth transfusing. Low-titre plasma is one of the reasons COVID trials showed no benefit.
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Is a better option coming?
A new monoclonal, an antiviral or bone-marrow recovery may make plasma unnecessary within days. Timing matters as much as the treatment itself.
The journey
From eligibility to transfusion, step by step.
Eligibility, donor matching, transfusion and follow-up — with a named consultant across the whole path.
Phase 1 · Before the transfusion
Eligibility and matching
Phase 2 · On the day
In the transfusion suite
Phase 3 · After
Monitoring the response
- 01
Before
Eligibility review
A consultant confirms whether passive antibody therapy is appropriate — usually a haematological malignancy, primary immunodeficiency or post-transplant patient whose own antibody response is inadequate.
- 02
Before
Alternatives ruled in or out
Monoclonal antibodies, specific hyperimmune globulin and IVIG are considered first. Plasma is offered when monoclonals are unavailable, the pathogen is resistant, or supply has run out.
- 03
Before
Donor matching and titre check
NHS Blood and Transplant, or an equivalent blood service, matches an ABO-compatible unit from a recovered donor with a high neutralising antibody titre and full infectious-disease screening.
- 04
On the day
Arrival and pre-transfusion checks
Identity, consent, baseline observations and a group-and-save. Intravenous access is placed and the unit is checked at the bedside by two clinicians.
- 05
On the day
The transfusion itself
A single unit of 250–500 mL runs over roughly two to four hours through a standard blood-giving set, with close observation for reactions in the first 15 minutes and throughout.
- 06
On the day
Observation after
Observations for at least an hour after the unit finishes. Most patients go home the same day; some are admitted overnight depending on the underlying illness.
- 07
After
Follow-up and repeat dosing
Symptoms, viral load or antibody levels are checked at intervals. A second unit is sometimes given if the response is partial and no better option exists.
Typical end-to-end: days, not weeks from referral to transfusion, once eligibility is agreed.
When it helps
When convalescent plasma is worth considering.
The narrow group of patients in whom passive antibody transfer earns its place — plus the situation that means stopping the unit immediately.
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Immunocompromised with active infection
Haematological malignancy, post-transplant or primary immunodeficiency patients with a viral infection their own immune system cannot clear.
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Monoclonal antibody unavailable or resistant
When the preferred monoclonal (for example sotrovimab, or tixagevimab/cilgavimab historically) is out of supply or the circulating variant has escaped it.
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Specific hyperimmune globulin exists
For hepatitis B, tetanus, rabies, varicella and CMV — specific hyperimmune globulin is a purified, standardised alternative and usually preferred to convalescent plasma.
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Early in the illness
Passive antibody works best when given early, before viral replication peaks. Late administration in hospitalised, ventilated patients has repeatedly shown no benefit.
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Historical precedent
Passive antibody transfer has been used for over a century — diphtheria antitoxin, Spanish flu, SARS, Ebola and, more recently, COVID-19.
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Compassionate or clinical-trial use
Occasionally offered outside standard indications when no evidence-based alternative exists, ideally within a registered clinical trial.
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Bridge while awaiting definitive therapy
Used short-term to buy time while a monoclonal antibody, antiviral or bone-marrow recovery takes effect.
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Red flag: reaction during transfusion
Breathlessness, chest pain, fever, rigors, rash or a sudden drop in blood pressure during the infusion — stop the unit, call the team, treat immediately.
Options compared
Convalescent plasma is one tool in a small toolbox.
What each option actually is, and which fits which situation.
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Convalescent plasma
Plasma from a recovered donor, containing a mix of polyclonal antibodies against the target pathogen. Cheap, quick to organise, but variable in titre.
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Specific hyperimmune globulin
Pooled, purified immunoglobulin from donors with high titres against a single pathogen — hepatitis B, tetanus, rabies, varicella, CMV. Standardised dose, better safety profile.
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Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
Pooled polyclonal antibody from thousands of donors. Broad coverage rather than targeted — used for antibody deficiency and some autoimmune diseases, not first-line for a specific infection.
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Monoclonal antibody
A laboratory-made single antibody targeting one epitope — for example sotrovimab, or tixagevimab/cilgavimab historically for COVID-19. Consistent dose but vulnerable to variant escape.
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Antiviral drugs
Small-molecule antivirals (remdesivir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, molnupiravir) act on the virus directly. Often used alongside, or instead of, passive antibody.
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Vaccination
Active immunisation, not passive — for prevention rather than treatment. Ineffective for patients whose immune system cannot mount an antibody response.
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Supportive care
Oxygen, hydration, treatment of complications. The backbone of care for any viral infection, with or without passive antibody.
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Clinical-trial enrolment
For an eligible patient, a trial of convalescent plasma or novel monoclonal is often the best route to a treatment with better evidence and structured monitoring.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of consultants, we picked them.
Consultant haematologists and infectious diseases physicians with access to NHS Blood and Transplant supply. Introductions are made privately once we understand the case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every consultant in our network.
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Consultant haematologist or infectious diseases physician-led
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Access to NHS Blood and Transplant or an equivalent screened supply
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Monoclonal antibody and hyperimmune globulin alternatives always considered first
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Delivery in a hospital or day-unit setting with full transfusion-reaction protocols
Safety and red flags
The reactions worth knowing about — honestly.
Plasma transfusion is generally safe, but it carries the same reaction profile as any blood product. Knowing the warning signs matters as much as the treatment itself.
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TRALI — transfusion-related acute lung injury
Sudden breathlessness and low oxygen within six hours of transfusion. Rare but serious — the unit is stopped immediately and the patient supported with oxygen or ventilation.
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TACO — transfusion-associated circulatory overload
Fluid overload from the transfused volume, especially in older patients or those with heart failure. Managed by slowing the rate, diuretics and oxygen.
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Allergic and anaphylactic reactions
Rash, itching, wheeze or, rarely, anaphylaxis. Mild reactions are treated with antihistamine; severe reactions stop the transfusion and trigger emergency treatment.
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Febrile non-haemolytic reaction
Fever, chills and rigors during or shortly after the transfusion. Common, usually benign, but the unit is paused and the patient assessed to exclude something more serious.
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ABO incompatibility
A wrong-blood-in-patient error is the commonest cause of catastrophic transfusion reaction — bedside checks by two clinicians are the single most important safety step.
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Transmission of infection despite screening
All donors are screened for HIV, hepatitis B and C, HTLV, syphilis and other pathogens, but no screen is perfect. The residual risk is very low but not zero.
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Ineffective antibody titre
A unit with a low neutralising titre may do nothing. Modern services measure titre before release, but the antibody may still miss a variant that has escaped it.
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Delay in evidence-based alternatives
The bigger harm is often opportunity cost — time spent organising plasma is time not spent giving a monoclonal, antiviral or standard-of-care treatment with better evidence.
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Red flags during transfusion
Sudden breathlessness, chest pain, back pain, rigors, drop in blood pressure or a widespread rash — stop the unit, keep the line open with saline, call the team.
Reading your transfusion note
Your transfusion note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever product was used, the note the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Transfusion language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Indication
Why plasma was chosen
The underlying immunodeficiency or infection, and why monoclonal antibody, hyperimmune globulin or antiviral was not the right first step.
- 02 Product
Donor, titre and unit details
The donor recovery status, the measured neutralising antibody titre, ABO group and full donor screening — HIV, hepatitis B and C, HTLV, syphilis and others.
- 03 Transfusion
Volume, rate and observations
The volume infused (usually 250–500 mL), infusion rate, baseline and interval observations, and any reactions during or after the transfusion.
- 04 Impression
Response, next steps, follow-up
Read this first: whether a clinical or laboratory response was seen, whether a second unit is planned, and the follow-up interval to reassess viral load or symptoms.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for passive antibody therapy varies by insurer and indication — most cases are funded on the NHS on clinical grounds. We confirm cover before booking any private care.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about convalescent plasma.
Quick answers on how it works, when it helps, the alternatives, and what a transfusion actually feels like.
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What is convalescent plasma therapy?
Passive antibody transfer using plasma collected from a donor who has recovered from an infection. Their antibodies are given to a patient whose own immune system cannot make them — most often someone with a haematological cancer, primary immunodeficiency or after a transplant.
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Does it work for COVID-19?
In hospitalised patients the large RECOVERY trial and others found no survival benefit, so it is not standard care. There is possible benefit in immunocompromised patients treated early with high-titre plasma when a monoclonal antibody is unavailable or the variant is resistant — a genuine but narrow niche.
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How is it different from IVIG or hyperimmune globulin?
IVIG is pooled polyclonal antibody from thousands of donors — broad, not targeted. Specific hyperimmune globulin is pooled from donors with high titres against one pathogen — standardised and preferred where it exists. Convalescent plasma is a single unit from one recovered donor — cheapest to organise, but variable.
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How is a donor selected?
A donor must have recovered from the infection, have a high measured neutralising antibody titre, screen negative for HIV, hepatitis B and C, HTLV, syphilis and other transmissible infections, and be ABO-compatible with the recipient. Plasma is usually collected by apheresis.
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How much plasma is given, and how long does it take?
A single unit of 250–500 mL runs over roughly two to four hours through a standard blood-giving set. Some patients receive a second unit a day or two later if the response is partial.
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What are the main risks?
TRALI (transfusion-related acute lung injury), TACO (circulatory overload), allergic and febrile reactions, ABO incompatibility if a bedside check is missed, and the rare residual risk of infection despite donor screening. The commonest indirect harm is delaying a better treatment.
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When is a monoclonal antibody used instead?
Wherever one exists and works against the circulating variant. Monoclonals are consistent in dose and easier to give, but many have been withdrawn when variants have escaped them — sotrovimab and tixagevimab/cilgavimab are examples where availability has changed over time.
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Is convalescent plasma safe in pregnancy?
Plasma transfusion in pregnancy carries the same reaction risks as in any adult, plus specific concerns about volume and Rh compatibility. Any decision is made with a haematologist and obstetrician together — it is not a first-line treatment.
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Who authorises and supplies it in the UK?
In the UK, plasma products are supplied through NHS Blood and Transplant and issued by hospital transfusion laboratories under consultant haematology governance. Private hospitals draw from the same supply chain.
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When should I ask for urgent help during a transfusion?
Sudden breathlessness, chest or back pain, fever, rigors, rash, itching, or a drop in blood pressure — tell the nurse immediately. The unit is stopped, saline is kept running through the line, and the transfusion team is called.
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In practice, in London
Where convalescent plasma therapy sits in a private London pathway
For convalescent plasma therapy, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. The wait for convalescent plasma therapy on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.
Once you’re in the private system for convalescent plasma therapy, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different — one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For convalescent plasma therapy in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.
There are a lot of consultants in London who can technically handle convalescent plasma therapy. Fewer who do it week in, week out for the exact question you’re bringing. We spend most of our time working out which is which — and being straight when a different test or a different specialist would serve you better. Everything runs to CQC, GMC and Royal College standards; the choice is about fit, not floor.