Supply of testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibody and PCR testing

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) are leading the Convalescent Plasma programme to explore the efficacy of donated plasma in the treatment of severe COVID-19 disease. Plasma will be donated by individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 disease and those plasma units with a sufficiently high level of antibody will be used as a treatment. Public Health England (PHE) will be carrying out Testing on the Materials on behalf of NHSBT. This will involve: - A SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody Testing service to NHSBT to enable the identification of convalescent plasma donations with sufficient level of antibody. - A SARS-CoV-2 PCR and RNA Testing service to NHSBT to support the Convalescent Plasma programme of work at NHSBT. PHE are undertaking this work for NHSBT during May-July 2020 whilst NHSBT ramps-up its in-house capabilities. The agreement is due to last until March 2021 as a contingency provision.

NHSBT's response to COVID-19 required a SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody Testing service and SARS-CoV-2 PCR and RNA Testing service to NHSBT to support the Convalescent Plasma programme of work at NHSBT during the pandemic. This work was required as a interim solution such that NHSBT could scale up in-house testing.