The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command approved the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as an authorized site to administer COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma, July 16.

Image/U.S. Navy Photographers Mate 3rd Class Elizabeth Thompson

CCP is the liquid part of blood collected from patients who recovered from a COVID-19 infection. Antibodies present in convalescent plasma are proteins that help patients fight an active infection; in this case, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests that CCP may be an effective treatment for some COVID-19 patients, but it has yet to be clinically proven.

Nimitz received 20 units of CCP from Naval Hospital Guam during a Safe Haven port visit to Guam on June 27. The CCP units Nimitz received are part of an effort by the Department of Defense to collect plasma from COVID-19 patients who have successfully recovered from the illness.

“We are the first ship to get official approval of the protocol,” said Navy Lt. Heather Hernandez, the ship’s nurse and member of the COVID Response Team aboard the Nimitz. “We could administer plasma today if it was needed. We are following the Army’s protocol for administering plasma and have added an addendum to their protocol, so we are included. We have also tailored the protocol so it fits in with our capabilities on the ship.”

CCP will be available for treatment of COVID-positive patients in DOD treatment facilities and operating units who meet established criteria and in accordance with approved protocols.

Read more at the Military Health System