HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers, today announced 172 of its affiliated hospitals are participating in a national study to test whether plasma from convalescent, or recovered, COVID-19 patients may help in the treatment of individuals currently sick from the virus. As part of the effort, these hospitals are seeking qualified plasma donors in 20 states. There has been a long history of successful viral infection treatment using convalescent plasma, but additional clinical data – and more plasma donations – are needed to determine efficacy in treating COVID-19. As part of this study, HCA Healthcare is leveraging its clinical research capabilities as well as its national hospital network to quickly expand collection and testing. HCA Healthcare’s participation is supported by its Sarah Cannon Research Institute, one of the world’s leading clinical research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials. Sarah Cannon has led more than 400 first-in-human oncology clinical trials since its inception in 1993. Read more in the full press release here.