The Times Union is reporting Albany Med is one the first hospitals in the country to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration to use an experimental treatment for patients critically ill with COVID-19. The treatment, known as convalescent plasma therapy, was used during the 1918 flu pandemic. It uses the plasma from a survivor of an infectious disease to treat others. The therapy utilizes the antibodies developed in those who have survived and it can be useful as a treatment for those still sickened by the virus. Albany Med has already had a patient try the treatment using plasma collected from an Albany Med employee who has fully recovered from the novel coronavirus. The medical facility is now seeking additional plasma donors for further research. To be eligible, a donor must be fully recovered from COVID-19 and symptom-free for at least 14 days. Candidates will be retested to ensure the virus is no longer in their system. The donations will be collected by the American Red Cross like a standard blood donation. To determine donor eligibility, those recovered from COVID-19 can call 518-262-9340 beginning at 9 a.m. Fri., Apr. 10. Read the full story in the Times Union.