People who have recovered from coronavirus are urged to donate plasma to help the national search for a treatment.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have backed the scheme, which is being run by NHS Blood and Transplant.

The clinical trial will be looking at how effective plasma is for treating coronavirus patients.

After a virus, your plasma contains antibodies that are used to help fight infection, with antibody-rich plasma described as convalescent.

The national trial will investigate whether plasma transfusions could improve a covid-19 patient’s recovery and chances of survival.

Potential donors must have recovered fully, so plasma is not being collected any sooner than 28 days after recovery.

There are two donor sites in Manchester, one in the city centre and another on Plymouth Grove, Longsight.

Plasma donation is not the same as blood donation, with the process taking around 45 minutes.

During your donation, plasma will be separated from the blood as you donate, in a process called apheresis.

Visit nhsbt.nhs.uk/covid-19-research and click on convalescent plasma to find out more about the process.