BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — Those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 can help patients fighting the infection in a big way by donating plasma.

It's called convalescent plasma, and blood centers across the state are seeing a growing need for it.

Back in March, Lindsey Guye was sick but was never tested for the virus. She says they wouldn't give her a test because she wasn't "sick enough."

Early on, when COVID came about, testing was limited.

Once she recovered however, Guye went to get tested for the antibodies and found out that she had them.

She wasn't the only one who got the news. Shortly after, she got a call from the Blood Connection in Arden.

"We saw that you tested positive for antibodies, would you consider donating plasma?" Guye says they asked.

"I used to work in the ICU as a nurse, and so I was like 'absolutely', like donating blood and plasma, anything I can do at this point to kind of help and give back," Guye says.

So she began her plasma donating journey. She's been donating since July.

Because she had the virus, her plasma can now help treat those battling COVID-19.

The FDA has ordered an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma to be used in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Allie Van Dyke with the Blood Connection is thankful for people like Guye who are stepping up.

"There are, and there will continue to be unfortunately, a lot of people in our local hospitals here in western North Carolina that are battling COVID, and for some of them, this convalescent plasma treatment is the only thing that will make them better," Van Dyke explains.

The Blood Connection says the need for this plasma has tripled in the last few months.

The center needs more people like Guye to step up.

"I have lots of friends who are on the front lines fighting, and so it's kind of one small thing that I can do besides wearing a mask and washing my hands that can really impact patients and help cure them," Guye says.

She now donates as often as she safely can.

"Thinking back to March and where we started, and seeing how far we've come, that this is now a treatment option for patients, and that we're, you know, there are still patients, obviously, dying but that some patients are getting better with this plasma treatment I think is just remarkable," Guye adds.

Your donation will help your neighbors in your area. The plasma from this center goes only to hospitals in western North Carolina, like Mission Hospital.

"The only way we can get it is from the community," Van Dyke says.

If you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and would like to donate plasma, the Blood Connection has locations across the Carolinas.

The plasma you give will help someone in your community.

Call 1.800.392.6551 to start the process.