The U.S. Blood Supply and the COVID-19
May 28, 2020
Response: In Brief
Jared S. Sussman
The nation’s blood supply is largely managed by a network of independent blood centers and the
Analyst in Health Policy
American Red Cross, with some oversight from the Department of Health and Human Services

(HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These private organizations collect blood
Agata Dabrowska
product donations (e.g., whole blood, plasma, and platelets) from individual volunteers through
Analyst in Health Policy
scheduled appointments, walk-in appointments, and blood drives. Independent blood centers and

the American Red Cross each collect nearly half of blood products nationwide, with the
remainder collected in hospital settings.

The response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed significant challenges for maintenance of
the U.S. blood supply. Mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as closures of schools and workplaces,
have led to blood drive cancellations at the places where such events are often held. In addition to blood drive cancellations,
individual state stay-at-home orders and general fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus might dissuade individuals from
scheduling appointments to donate blood.
Both FDA and Congress have taken action to address some of these issues. For example, FDA—the agency that regulates the
blood supply and blood products—issued guidance in April 2020 to broaden the pool of eligible blood donors and create
alternative procedures for blood establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136), enacted on March 27, 2020, included a provision requiring the
Secretary of HHS to create a nationwide awareness campaign regarding the importance of donations to maintain the blood
supply.
Various drugs and biologics, including blood-derived therapies, are under investigation for treating and preventing COVID-
19. FDA has issued treatment and research guidance regarding two blood-derived treatments: convalescent plasma and
hyperimmune globulin. However, data regarding the safety and effectiveness of such treatments are still being generated.
Given the therapeutic potential of blood-derived therapies, and as part of its efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Congress may wish to consider further action regarding the maintenance of the U.S. blood supply.
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The U.S. Blood Supply and the COVID-19 Response

Introduction
The nation’s blood supply is largely managed by a network of independent blood centers and the
American Red Cross, with some oversight from the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency within HHS.1 These
organizations collect donated blood and its components (e.g., plasma, red blood cells, and
platelets) from individuals through scheduled appointments, walk-in appointments, and blood
drives. Independent blood centers and the American Red Cross each collect nearly half of blood
products nationwide, and the remainder is collected in hospital settings.2 Because blood products
have a limited shelf-life, ongoing donations are necessary.3
Blood is used for transfusions—one of the most common medical procedures in which healthy
blood is given to an individual.4 Transfusions are generally considered safe. However, there is a
small risk of complications. Certain infectious diseases can be transmitted through contact with
an infected individual’s blood, which is mitigated through FDA guidance and implementation of
safety protocols by blood establishments, such as deferral requirements for certain potential blood
donors who may be at higher risk of transmitting an infectious disease.
In addition to its use in transfusions, blood and blood components can also be used in the
manufacture of blood-derived pharmaceutical products. The manufacture of blood products is
also regulated by FDA.
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for the U.S. blood
supply. Mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as closures of schools and
workplaces, have led to blood drive cancellations. In addition to blood drive cancellations,
individual state stay-at-home orders and general fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus might
dissuade individuals from scheduling appointments to donate blood.
This issue first emerged in early March 2020, when a critical blood supply shortage was
identified in the Pacific Northwest as Washington State was responding to localized COVID-19
outbreaks.5 Around that same time, other blood establishments across the country began to issue
press releases indicating an urgent need for donated blood.6 Some evidence showed that a large

1 For more information on independent blood centers, see https://americasblood.org/about/. For more information on
the American Red Cross, see https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html.
2 FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Blood Research and Review, “FDA Regulation of
Blood and Blood Components in the United States,” seminar, August 20, 2019, p. Slide 15, http://fda.yorkcast.com/
webcast/Play/7febcdc6189646e5b6f1a18e392815fb1d.
3 Whole blood expires 21-35 days from donation. The shelf-life of other blood products ranges in length from five days
(platelets) to one year (plasma); see https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-
donations/blood-components.html.
4 https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-transfusion.
5 On March 9, 2020, one blood center, Bloodworks Northwest, headquartered in Seattle, WA, issued a press release
warning that the Pacific Northwest blood supply was at the risk of collapse in coming days due to COVID-19 concerns.
The release notes that the closure of schools, businesses, and events had led to the cancellation of blood drives in the
area. For the press release, see https://www.bloodworksnw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus-press-release-
march-9-2020.pdf.
6 In early March, blood establishments were acting independently to issue press releases raising concern and calling for
individuals to donate. For an example, see New York Blood Center’s March 4, 2020, press release:
https://nybloodcenter.org/news/articles/new-york-blood-center-announces-urgent-need-blood-and-platelet-donors-
fears-coronavirus-keep-healthy-donors-away/.
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percentage of blood establishments were facing critical shortages, which typically means that the
establishment has a day or less of supply.7
Recently, far fewer blood establishments have reported critical or low supplies,8 and this is
attributed to outreach efforts and the ability to share blood and blood components through a
national resource-sharing program, the National Blood Exchange (NBE).9 (See the “Oversight of
the U.S. Blood Supply” section below for information on the NBE.) In addition, widespread
deferral of elective and non-emergent medical procedures during the initial response to COVID-
19 decreased the demand for transfusions.10 Blood supplies may be strained, as those medical
procedures resume.
FDA issued guidance relaxing restrictions on blood donation, which did not mitigate the
immediate need for blood in March 2020, but may have the effect of increasing the donor pool for
supply shortages in the future as the country continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the industry is implementing recommended changes to expand the size of the donor pool
and creating blood banks of donations from donors who may have already contracted and
recovered from COVID-19, whose blood may be used for a potential treatment.
This report provides a brief background of the regulatory framework for the U.S. blood supply,
explains the federal response to the current crisis, and discusses potential treatment of COVID-19
using blood-derived products.
Regulation and Oversight of U.S. Blood Supply
The U.S. blood supply is largely regulated by FDA, which includes, among other things,
oversight through licensing of organizations and products. Oversight regarding emergency
response preparedness and the monitoring of local and national blood supply is a collaborative
effort between HHS and industry groups, which includes professional organizations representing
blood establishments.11
FDA Regulation of the Blood Supply
FDA oversees the collection of blood and its components (e.g., plasma, red blood cells, and
platelets) intended for transfusion or for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. FDA
regulates blood and blood products (“blood products”) as biologics under two statutes: the

7 America’s Blood Centers, a network of non-Red Cross blood centers representing about half of the nation’s blood
supply, maintains a stoplight report with publicly available real-time data on regional blood supply availability. On any
day in the first two weeks of March 2020, the stoplight report shows that at least 40% of blood centers had a critical or
low supply of blood; see https://americasblood.org/for-donors/americas-blood-supply/.
8 The America’s Blood Centers stoplight report shows that, as of May 6, 2020, a far lower percentage of blood centers
were experiencing shortages of blood. In addition, as of that date, industry groups had not issued urgent calls for blood
donations in several weeks.
9 Monica B. Pagano, John R. Hess, and Hamilton C. Tsang, et al., “The blood supply management amid the COVID-19
outbreak,” Transfusion, vol. 60, no. 5 (March 21, 2020), pp. 908-911.
10 Ibid.
11 21 C.F.R. §607.3. The term establishment refers to “a place of business under one management at one general
physical location and includes, among others, human blood and plasma donor centers, blood banks, transfusion
services, other blood product manufacturers and independent laboratories that engage in quality control and testing for
registered blood product establishments.”
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Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Public Health Service Act (PHSA).12
The FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) Office of Blood Research and
Review (OBRR) establishes regulatory policies and standards; reviews regulatory applications
and grants licenses for blood products; performs mission-related research; and conducts
emergency preparedness and outreach.13
Establishments that manufacture blood products must register with FDA and are subject to
inspection by the agency.14 Certain establishments—those manufacturing blood-derived
pharmaceutical products or intending to ship blood products across state lines—also must be
licensed by FDA under a biologics license application (BLA).15 For example, the American Red
Cross and other blood centers are licensed for blood collection because they supply blood
products to multiple hospitals, often across state lines.16 In contrast, hospitals typically do not ship
blood products across state lines and thus do not require a license, although they must register
with FDA for blood collection.
Blood establishments must comply with FDA regulations governing blood collection, storage,
testing, and processing, among other things. FDA regulations also describe eligibility criteria to
donate blood that both protect the health of the donor and ensure the safety, purity, and potency of
the blood product.17 Current FDA guidance recognizes an industry-prepared standardized donor
history questionnaire as an acceptable mechanism for determining eligibility.18 The donor history
questionnaire incorporates all FDA guidance and regulations pertaining to donor eligibility.19
FDA often issues guidance documents that recommend how to comply with statutes and
regulations in general, as well as in specific scenarios, such as when there is stress on the blood

12 42 U.S.C. §262, §264 and 21 U.S.C. §§301 et seq. FDA regulations pertaining to blood products are set forth at 21
C.F.R. Parts 600 (Biological products; general); 601 (Licensing); 606 (Current good manufacturing practice for blood
and blood components); 607 (Establishment registration and product listing for manufacturers of human blood and
blood products and licensed devices); 610 (General biological products standards); 630 (Requirements for blood and
blood components intended for transfusion or for further manufacturing use); and 640 (Additional standards for human
blood and blood products). The regulation of blood products is described in further detail in the “FDA Regulation of
Biologics” section of this report.
13 For CBER product jurisdiction by office, see FDA, “CBER Product Jurisdiction,” March 26, 2018,
https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/center-biologics-evaluation-and-research-cber/cber-product-jurisdiction. For more
information on FDA regulation of biologics and drugs, see CRS In Focus IF11083, Medical Product Regulation:
Drugs, Biologics, and Devices.
14 21 C.F.R. §607.3. The term manufacture refers to “the collection, preparation, processing or compatibility testing by
chemical, physical, biological, or other procedures of any blood product which meets the [FFDCA] definition of a
drug.”
15 42 U.S.C. §262. FDA, “FDA Regulation of Blood and Blood Components in the United States,”
https://www.fda.gov/media/81654/download. Biologics licensure is described in further detail in the “FDA Regulation
of Biologics” section of this report.
16 For additional information, see “FDA Regulation of Blood and Blood Components in the United States” at
https://www.fda.gov/media/81654/download.
17 21 C.F.R. §630.10(a).
18 FDA, “Implementation of Acceptable Full-Length and Abbreviated Donor History Questionnaires and
Accompanying Materials for Use in Screening Donors of Blood and Blood Components,” May 15, 2015,
https://www.fda.gov/media/124193/download.
19 The donor history questionnaire is available at http://www.aabb.org/tm/questionnaires/Documents/dhq/v2/
DHQ%20v2.0.pdf.
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supply due to the COVID-19 response.20 These guidance documents are not legally binding.21
However, blood establishments use FDA guidance to create standard operating procedures.
Oversight of the U.S. Blood Supply
Coordination of blood availability and emergency preparedness is a collaborative effort between
many stakeholders, with input from HHS, FDA, and other federal entities, as well as from
nonfederal partners. The HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)
supports the coordination of blood safety and emergency preparedness and response activities.
OIDP staff serve as liaisons on a number of councils, task forces, advisory committees, and
programs.22
Of particular interest for the COVID-19 pandemic response is the Inter-organizational Task Force
on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism (the task force), which is led by the American
Association of Blood Banks (AABB).23 When an event affects the local blood supply (e.g.,
disaster, terrorism), the affected blood center contacts AABB. After this initial contact, AABB
convenes a conference call with task force members, which typically results in issuance of
coordinated recommendations and messages to the blood community, donors, and the public.
Concurrently, AABB assists the affected blood center(s) to increase the local blood supply
through a resource-sharing program, the National Blood Exchange. NBE is the primary resource-
sharing program for blood centers in the United States.24 NBE facilitates sharing of blood
products, in general, and in response to an emergency. NBE can move blood from blood centers
with surpluses to those that cannot meet anticipated need. This program, administered by AABB,
allows for the transfer of surplus blood products at any time of the day to areas in need. NBE
monitors the blood supply across blood centers and across regions for potential shortages.
In general, HHS does not monitor in real time the U.S. blood supply. Licensed blood
establishments are required to report significant interruptions in manufacturing to FDA.25
However, real time monitoring is only available through the NBE system and only registered
AABB members can access information on blood supply availability through NBE.
Industry and Federal Response to COVID-19
FDA, HHS, and the blood industry have responded to a potential critical shortage of blood due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Congress included a provision in the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136), enacted on March 27, 2020 that

20 21 C.F.R. §10.115. For FDA blood guidance, see https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/biologics-guidances/
blood-guidances.
21 21 C.F.R. §10.115(d).
22 OIDP maintain a list of its roles and responsibilities for the various entities; see https://www.hhs.gov/oidp/topics/
blood-tissue-safety/roles/index.html.
23 Membership on the task force includes federal agencies (HHS, FDA, and CDC) and nonfederal entities such as the
AABB and the American Red Cross. For more information, see http://www.aabb.org/programs/disasterresponse/Pages/
default.aspx#1.
24 For more information on the NBE, see NBE, “System at Work,” http://www.aabb.org/programs/nbe/Pages/
default.aspx#2.
25 21 C.F.R. §600.82
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directed the Secretary of HHS to carry out a national awareness campaign regarding the nation’s
blood supply.
FDA first issued information for blood establishments on February 4, 2020, including
considerations for altering blood donation practices in response to COVID-19.26 This information
was updated on March 11, 2020, and again on May 11, 2020.27
The May 11 release suggests that some blood establishments may want to consider donor
education, encourage self-deferral, and manage post-donation information about COVID-19. The
May 11 release recommends that individuals self-defer from donating blood for 14 days after
either (1) resolution of symptoms after a diagnosis of COVID-19 or (2) the last positive
diagnostic test if no symptoms developed. Donors are also directed to report a subsequent
diagnosis after donation. The May 11 release does not recommend using laboratory tests to screen
asymptomatic donors or deferral for recent travel to specific areas with COVID-19 cases.28
Historically, FDA has recommended donor deferrals that vary from short periods of time after a
specific event to indefinite, lifetime deferrals for individuals that are at risk of transmitting
infectious diseases.
To date, there is no reported transfusion-transmitted case of COVID-19.29 However, there exists a
theoretical risk of transmission through blood transfusion, and there are still many unknowns
regarding the virus that causes COVID-19.30 Transmission primarily occurs through respiratory
body fluids, but the virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in blood samples from
infected individuals, thereby raising questions about the possibility of transmission through blood
transfusion from blood collected from an infected donor.31 The potential of transmission through
blood transfusion, although theoretical, necessitates some precautionary measures.
Blood centers and the American Red Cross issued specific guidance to potential blood donors
regarding COVID-19, which was largely based on the FDA notices. Organizations representing
the industry also issued press releases calling for individuals to schedule appointments for
donation and reassuring them about the safety of donating blood.32
The task force urged blood centers to contact state and local emergency management and public
health agencies to request inclusion in emergency planning and response activities.33 The task
force recommended that blood centers share draft letters from HHS and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) that highlight the importance of working with the blood centers
during an emergency response.34 The HHS letter was drafted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

26 FDA, “Important Information for Blood Establishments Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak,” press release,
February 4, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/important-information-
blood-establishments-regarding-novel-coronavirus-outbreak.
27 FDA, “Updated Information for Blood Establishments Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak,” press release,
May 11, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/updated-information-blood-
establishments-regarding-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Le Chang, Ying Yan, and Lunan Wang, “Coronavirus Disease 2019: Coronaviruses and Blood Safety,” Transfusion
Medicine Reviews, [Epub ahead of print] February 21, 2020.
31 Wenling Wang, Yanli Xu, and Ruqin Gao, et al., “Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Different Types of Clinical
Specimens,” JAMA, vol. 323, no. 18 (March 11, 2020), pp. 1843-1844.
32 For an example of a call to donate, see http://www.aabb.org/press/Pages/pr200312.aspx.
33 For more information, see http://www.aabb.org/programs/disasterresponse/Pages/default.aspx#4.
34 HHS, “Raising Priority Status of Blood with State/Local Emergency Management Agencies,” April 10, 2019,
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The FEMA letter was published on March 19, 2020, to specifically address the COVID-19
response.35
FDA Guidance to Address COVID-19-Related Supply Issues
FDA issued four guidance documents on April 2, 2020, to address COVID-19-related blood
supply issues. This new guidance did not mitigate the immediate need for blood in March 2020,
but may increase the donor pool for supply shortages in the future as the country continues to
respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. One document creates alternative procedures for blood
collection, while the other three relax restrictions on donor eligibility intended to protect the
blood supply.36 FDA has traditionally issued guidance on reducing potential risks associated with
blood donations. The new guidance documents alter donor deferral recommendations for
potential donors regarding three areas of blood supply safety:
 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission by blood and blood
products (HIV guidance);37
 transfusion-transmitted Malaria (Malaria guidance);38 and
 transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease by blood and blood components (CJD guidance).39
These recommendations are intended to broaden the pool of potential donors while maintaining
the safety of the blood supply.
The FDA guidance documents are expected to remain in effect for the duration of the public
health emergency.40 Unlike the typical process for issuing new guidance, these guidance
documents were issued without a public comment period, in accordance with a notice published
in the Federal Register that outlined a process for making available guidance documents related
to COVID-19.41 Under this process, FDA is accepting comments for the published guidance and
is to consider the comments and potentially update the guidance to incorporate them. The only
exception is the guidance related to CJD, which finalizes draft guidance from January 2020. FDA
indicated that the HIV and Malaria guidance will continue to apply outside the context of the
current public health emergency, subject to comments received on the interim final guidance.

http://www.aabb.org/programs/disasterresponse/Documents/letterhhs.pdf.
35 FEMA, “Raising Priority Status of Blood with State/Local Emergency Management Agencies,” March 19, 2020,
http://www.aabb.org/programs/disasterresponse/Documents/FEMA-Letter.pdf.
36 FDA, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Provides Updated Guidance to Address the Urgent Need for Blood
During the Pandemic,” press release, April 2, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/
coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-provides-updated-guidance-address-urgent-need-blood-during-pandemic.
37 FDA, “Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by
Blood and Blood Products,” Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/media/92490/download.
38 FDA, “Revised Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria,” Guidance for Industry,
April 2, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/media/72243/download.
39 FDA, “Recommendations to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components,” Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020,
https://www.fda.gov/media/124156/download.
40 A public health emergency was first declared on January 27, 2020. It was renewed on April 26, 2020. HHS,
“Renewal of Determination That a Public Health Emergency Exists,” press release, April 21, 2020,
https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/covid19-21apr2020.aspx.
41 FDA, “Process for Making Available Guidance Documents Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019,” 85 Federal
Register 16949, March 5, 2020.
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However, the alternative procedure guidance is to terminate when the public health emergency is
terminated.
Alternative Procedure Guidance
FDA issued guidance titled “Alternative Procedures for Blood and Blood Components During the
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; Guidance for Industry” (Alternative Procedure Guidance)
on April 2, 2020, that creates exceptions to procedures included in the regulatory framework for
determining donor eligibility and for storage of certain blood products during the COVID-19
emergency.42 The changes are intended to expand the availability of blood products. Under typical
circumstances, certain blood donations may be considered unsuitable because of a failure to
follow procedures put in place to protect the health of the donor (e.g., a physical assessment to
determine the potential donor’s blood pressure, pulse, weight, and donation frequency).43 The
guidance recommends using such blood donations, which would have previously been considered
unsuitable because they might have adversely affected the health of the donor. This guidance does
not eliminate the physical assessment requirement, but it allows collected blood to be used in the
event that there was an error.
In addition, the emergency guidance increases the time in which blood centers must obtain
omitted donor information—from within 24 hours of donation44 to within 72 hours.45 Lastly, the
guidance decreases the recommended amount of time, from 60 to 45 calendar days that certain
plasma donations must be quarantined prior to use.46 Plasma from paid donors is quarantined
before use to ensure that the donor meets all eligibility requirements.47
HIV Transmission by Blood and Blood Products
Long-standing FDA guidance, first established in 1985, deferred men who have sex with men
(MSM) from donating blood for life. This lifetime deferral applied to men who had sex with men
even one time. The intent of the deferral was to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by blood and
blood products. In 1992, FDA issued a memo that reiterated the lifetime deferral for MSM. FDA
revised its recommendations in 2015 to apply the deferral for 12 months rather than a lifetime.48
The 12-month deferral period also applied to women who had sex with MSM, as well as to
individuals who were tattooed or pierced, had sex in exchange for money or drugs, had engaged
in nonprescription injection drug use, had received a blood transfusion, had come into contact
with another individual’s blood, and/or had a history of syphilis or gonorrhea. The new guidance,
issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, revises the recommended deferral period from 12
months to 3 months for each of these groups.49

42 FDA, “Alternative Procedures for Blood and Blood Components During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,”
Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/media/136603/download.
43 21 C.F.R. §630.10(f).
44 21 C.F.R. §630.10(c)(2).
45 FDA, “Alternative Procedures for Blood and Blood Components During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,”
Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020, p. 4, https://www.fda.gov/media/136603/download.
46 FDA, “Alternative Procedures for Blood and Blood Components During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,”
Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020, p. 3, https://www.fda.gov/media/136603/download. [21 C.F.R. § 640.69(f)].
47 21 C.F.R. §640.69(e).
48 FDA, “Revised Recommendation for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood
and Blood Products; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability,” 80 Federal Register 27973-27976, May 15, 2015.
49 FDA, “Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood
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Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria
Since 1994, FDA has recommended deferral of blood donors who have had malaria or have had
possible exposure to malaria during travel to or residence in malaria-endemic countries.50 The
occurrence of transfusion-transmitted malaria is relatively low in the United States,51 and the
recommendation contributes to thousands of deferrals every year. Table 1 lists recommended
deferral periods under the new and previous guidance for different travel scenarios.
Table 1. Malaria-Related Donor Deferral Recommendations Under Previous and
Current FDA Guidance
2013 Deferral
2020 Deferral
Donor History
Guidance
Guidance
Travel to a malaria-endemic area (resident of a nonendemic country)
1 year
3 months
Resident of a malaria-endemic country
3 years
3 years
Travel to a malaria-endemic area (resident of a malaria-endemic
3 years
3 years
country)—less than 3 consecutive years in nonendemic country
Travel to a malaria-endemic area (resident of a malaria-endemic
1 year
3 months
country)—3 or more consecutive years in nonendemic country
Malaria diagnosis
3 years
3 years
Source: FDA, “Revised Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria,” Guidance
for Industry, April 2, 2020, p. 12.
Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components
Recommended deferrals for individuals who may have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease and variant-Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (commonly known as “mad cow disease”) were
previously broad, including indefinite deferrals for individuals who spent five or more years in
Europe since 1980 and certain military personnel and families that spent time on U.S. military
bases in Europe.52 The new guidance eliminates those deferrals but continues to recommend
indefinite, lifetime deferrals for specified residency in some European countries (i.e., France, the
United Kingdom, and Ireland).
CARES Act Section 3226
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136), enacted on
March 27, 2020, included one provision related to the blood supply. Section 3226 of the CARES
Act requires the Secretary to carry out a national campaign to improve awareness of, and support
outreach to the public and health care providers about, the importance and safety of blood
donation and the need for donations to the blood supply.
The provision requires the Secretary to consult with heads of relevant federal agencies,
accrediting bodies, and representative organizations to carry out the campaign. In addition, the
Secretary is authorized to contract with public and private nonprofit entities to carry out the
campaign.

and Blood Products,” Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020, pp. 8-9, https://www.fda.gov/media/92490/download.
50 FDA, “Revised Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria,” Guidance for Industry,
April 2, 2020, p. 3, https://www.fda.gov/media/72243/download.
51 Ibid., p. 3.
52 FDA, “Recommendations to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components,” Guidance for Industry, April 2, 2020, pp. 16-17,
https://www.fda.gov/media/124156/download.
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The provision requires the Secretary to submit a report to the Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce not later
than two years from enactment (i.e., March 27, 2022) that (1) describes the activities carried out,
(2) describes trends in blood supply donations, and (3) evaluates the impact of the public
awareness campaign.
Potential Use of U.S. Blood Supply to Treat
COVID-19
To date, no therapeutics—drugs or biologics—have been approved to treat COVID-19. Although
various drugs and biologics, including blood-derived therapies, are being studied to determine
their capacity to treat or prevent COVID-19, the data regarding whether they can do so safely and
effectively are still being generated.
Convalescent Plasma and Hyperimmune Globulin
FDA has identified two investigational blood-derived therapies for the treatment of COVID-19:
convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulin. Both are made from the blood plasma (the fluid
portion of human blood) of a person who has recovered from the disease.53 Individuals who
recover from COVID-19 typically develop antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the
disease. Limited anecdotal evidence suggests that these antibodies can be administered to treat
critically ill patients with COVID-19.54
Convalescent plasma refers to blood plasma that is collected from an individual who has
recovered (i.e., “convalesced”) from a disease, in this case COVID-19, and then administered to a
patient actively sick with COVID-19 for treatment. Convalescent plasma therapy has been
studied in, although not approved for, the treatment of other viral respiratory diseases, including
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and
H1N1 influenza.55 Several steps are involved in using convalescent plasma as a treatment—
including obtaining blood from a recovered donor, testing it for safety, isolating the plasma, and
then transfusing it into a patient with COVID-19.56 Some estimates indicate that one donor could
treat two or three recipients.57 Plasma transfusions are generally safe; however, they are not

53 FDA, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Coordinates National Effort to Develop Blood-Related Therapies for
COVID-19,” April 3, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-
coordinates-national-effort-develop-blood-related-therapies-covid-19.
54 Ibid. C Shen, Z Wang, F Zhao, et al., “Treatment of 5 Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 With Convalescent
Plasma,” JAMA (March 27, 2020). JD Roback and J Guarner, “Convalescent Plasma to Treat COVID-19 Possibilities
and Challenges,” JAMA (March 27, 2020).
55 FDA, “Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma,” Guidance for Industry, April 2020, https://www.fda.gov/
media/136798/download. Y Cheng, R Wong, YO Soo, et al., “Use of convalescent plasma therapy in SARS patients in
Hong Kong,” Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, vol. 24, no. 1 (January 2005). IF Hung, KK To, CK Lee, et al.,
“Convalescent plasma treatment reduced mortality in patients with severe pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus
infection,” Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 52, no. 4 (February 2011).
56 A Joseph, “Everything we know about coronavirus immunity and antibodies—and plenty we still don’t,” STAT
News, April 20, 2020, https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/20/everything-we-know-about-coronavirus-immunity-and-
antibodies-and-plenty-we-still-dont/.
57 American Association of Hematology, “COVID-19 and Convalescent Plasma: Frequently Asked Questions,”
updated April 10, 2020, https://www.hematology.org/covid-19/covid-19-and-convalescent-plasma.
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without risk and can cause allergic reactions and other side effects in some patients.58 Data are
limited regarding the safety and effectiveness of convalescent plasma in treating COVID-19, but
anecdotal evidence suggests the treatment may be safe and effective for some patients.59
A related therapy, hyperimmune globulin, is a manufactured biological product containing
concentrated antibodies collected from convalescent plasma. Although convalescent plasma units
vary in antibody types (e.g., IgG, IgM) and levels based on the plasma donor, hyperimmune
globulin preparations are typically standardized.60 FDA has approved hyperimmune globulin
therapies for several non-COVID-19 indications, including exposure to Hepatitis B and treatment
of inhalational anthrax, among others.61 According to one drug manufacturer currently in the
process of developing hyperimmune globulin for COVID-19, manufacturing this product “will
require plasma donation from many individuals who have fully recovered from COVID-19, and
whose blood contains antibodies that can fight the novel coronavirus. Once collected, the
‘convalescent’ plasma would then be transported to manufacturing facilities where it undergoes
proprietary processing, including effective virus inactivation and removal processes, and then is
purified into the [hyperimmune globulin] product.”62
Serological tests that detect COVID-19 antibodies may help identify the best treatment
candidates, as well as potential plasma donors. However, questions remain regarding immunity to
the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including whether antibodies confer immunity and if so, to what extent,
reinfection, and the accuracy of available serological tests.63
FDA Regulation of Biologics
FDA regulates convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulins as biological products
(biologics)—therapeutics derived from or made in a living system.64 Generally, a biologic may be
provided to patients only if FDA has licensed (i.e., approved) it for marketing under a biologics
license application, authorized its use in a clinical trial under an investigational new drug
application (IND), or authorized its use through expanded access under an IND, including an
emergency IND (eIND).

58 FDA, “Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma - Emergency INDs Frequently Asked Questions,” April 3,
2020, https://www.fda.gov/media/136470/download.
59 Ibid.
60 JD Roback and J Guarner, “Convalescent Plasma to Treat COVID-19 Possibilities and Challenges,” JAMA (March
27, 2020).
61 FDA, “Immune Globulins,” August 16, 2019, https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/approved-blood-
products/immune-globulins.
62 Takeda, “Global Plasma Leaders Collaborate to Accelerate Development of Potential COVID-19 Hyperimmune
Therapy,” Newsroom, April 6, 2020, https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2020/global-plasma-leaders-
collaborate-to-accelerate-development-of-potential-covid-19-hyperimmune-therapy/.
63 CRS In Focus IF11516, COVID-19 Testing: Key Issues. JD Roback and J Guarner, “Convalescent Plasma to Treat
COVID-19 Possibilities and Challenges,” JAMA (March 27, 2020). A Joseph, “Everything we know about coronavirus
immunity and antibodies—and plenty we still don’t,” STAT News, April 20, 2020, https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/
20/everything-we-know-about-coronavirus-immunity-and-antibodies-and-plenty-we-still-dont/.
64 PHSA §351(i)(1) [21 U.S.C. § 262(i)(1)] defines a biologic as “a virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, vaccine,
blood, blood component or derivative, allergenic product, protein, or analogous product, or arsphenamine or derivative
of arsphenamine (or any other trivalent organic arsenic compound), applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of a
disease or condition of human beings.” See CRS Report R44620, Biologics and Biosimilars: Background and Key
Issues.
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Most biologics available to patients are licensed under a BLA for marketing and use. For
purposes of licensure, FDA requires data from clinical investigations—formally designed,
conducted, and analyzed studies of human subjects—to provide evidence of a biologic’s safety,
purity, and potency. Such investigations must be conducted under an IND, which is a request for
FDA authorization to administer an investigational drug or biologic to humans.65 An IND must
include information about the investigational drug or biologic and its chemistry, manufacturing,
and controls; the proposed clinical study design; completed animal test data; and the lead
investigator’s qualifications, among other things.66 The investigator also must provide assurance
that an Institutional Review Board (IRB) will provide initial and continuous review and approval
of each of the studies in the clinical investigation to ensure that participants are aware of the
drug’s investigative status and that any risk of harm will be necessary, explained, and
minimized.67 FDA has 30 days to review an IND and, unless the agency objects, clinical testing
may commence after that review. After completing clinical testing, the manufacturer may submit
a BLA for licensure to FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. A BLA must contain
certain information—for example, data from nonclinical laboratory and clinical studies—and
licensure is based on a determination by FDA that the biologic and the facility in which it is
manufactured, processed, packed, or held, meet standards to ensure that the product is safe, pure,
and potent.68
Prior to or in absence of an effective BLA, a patient may access an investigational biologic under
an IND by participating in a clinical trial. An individual who is not eligible for participation in a
clinical trial (e.g., because they do not meet the study criteria, or because the trial is not enrolling
new patients) may request access to an investigational therapy through an expanded access
protocol, provided that an IND is in effect for the investigational therapy and
 the physician determines that the patient has no comparable or satisfactory
alternative therapy, and that the probable risk from the investigational therapy is
not greater than the probable risk from the disease or condition, and
 FDA determines there is sufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness and that
provision of the investigational therapy will not interfere with “the initiation,
conduct, or completion of clinical investigations to support marketing
approval.”69
In cases where access to a clinical trial or the expanded access protocol is not available or
feasible, a physician may request an eIND for an individual patient.70
The provision of an investigational therapy in a clinical trial is intended to generate evidence of
safety and effectiveness to support marketing approval of a therapeutic. In contrast, expanded
access protocols are intended to provide investigational therapies to patients who have exhausted
all other options and are not intended to be used to obtain safety and effectiveness data.

65 FFDCA §505(i) [21 U.S.C. §355(i)]; PHSA §351(a)(3) [42 U.S.C. §262(a)(3)]; 21 C.F.R. Part 312.
66 21 C.F.R. §312.23.
67 21 C.F.R. §312.23(a)(1)(iv) and 21 C.F.R. Part 56.
68 PHSA §351(a)(2)(C) [42 U.S.C. § 262(a)(2)(C)]. FDA regulations at 21 C.F.R. §601.2(a) specify the required
contents of a BLA.
69 FFDCA §561(b) [21 U.S.C. §360bbb(b)].
70 21 C.F.R. §312.310.
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FDA Treatment and Research Guidance for COVID-19
FDA has not approved a BLA for convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19 and, as such,
considers it an investigational biologic. FDA has issued guidance clarifying that administration of
COVID-19 convalescent plasma by a health care provider must occur either in a clinical trial
under an IND, under an expanded access IND, or under a single-patient eIND.71 To facilitate
patient access to investigational convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19, FDA, working
with federal partners and academia, has opened an expanded access protocol for patients across
the United States. Such access is limited to individuals with severe or life-threatening COVID-19,
or to those who have been judged by the treating provider to be at high risk of progression to
severe or life-threatening disease.72 More than 2,200 sites and over 5,900 physician investigators
have signed on to participate in the expanded access protocol, with the Mayo Clinic providing the
cognizant IRB.73 In cases where access to a clinical trial or the expanded access protocol is not
available, a physician may request an eIND for an individual patient—limited to those with
severe or life-threatening COVID-19. The guidance further provides recommendations for
collection of COVID-19 convalescent plasma. To donate, an individual must be recovered, as
specified; have a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test; and meet other
donor criteria.74 For individuals who did not receive a diagnostic test at the time of illness, a
serological test can help identify individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 who have
developed antibodies against the virus.
FDA has not approved a BLA for hyperimmune globulin for treatment of COVID-19 and
considers it an investigational biologic. Although FDA’s convalescent plasma guidance does not
address hyperimmune globulin specifically, patients may access investigational hyperimmune
globulin under an IND by participating in a clinical trial or through expanded access. In addition,
FDA is reportedly helping coordinate a study of hyperimmune globulin that will be conducted by
the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of
Health (NIH).75 The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
within HHS is also collaborating with various entities to facilitate the development of these
investigational treatments. This collaboration includes working with the American Red Cross to
recruit donors and collect, store, and distribute convalescent plasma, as well as expanding
existing private-public partnerships. For example, through a partnership with BARDA, Emergent
BioSolutions is to collect donated plasma and use its hyperimmune platform to develop and
manufacture COVID-19 hyperimmune globulin.76

71 FDA, “Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma,” April 2020, updated May 1, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/
media/136798/download. Also see Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Patients With
COVID-19, https://www.uscovidplasma.org/.
72 Ibid.
73 COVID-19 expanded access program, accessed May 18, 2020, https://www.uscovidplasma.org/. FDA, “Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Update: FDA Encourages Recovered Patients to Donate Plasma for Development of Blood-Related
Therapies,” April 16, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-
encourages-recovered-patients-donate-plasma-development-blood.
74 FDA, “Recommendations for Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma,” April 13, 2020,
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/investigational-new-drug-ind-or-device-exemption-ide-process-cber/
recommendations-investigational-covid-19-convalescent-plasma.
75 FDA Combatting COVID-19 with Therapeutics, updated April 9, 2020, https://www.fda.gov/media/136832/
download.
76 HHS, “HHS facilitates development of immunotherapies for COVID-19 patients,” April 13, 2020,
https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/news/Pages/immunotherapies-COVID-13April20.aspx .
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Author Information

Jared S. Sussman
Agata Dabrowska
Analyst in Health Policy
Analyst in Health Policy

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
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Congressional Research Service
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