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The Union health ministry on Tuesday advised against considering the plasma therapy to be a regular treatment for coronavirus and added that it should only be used for research and trial purposes till the time there's robust scientific evidence to support its efficacy.

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The government added further that plasma therapy could lead to life-threatening complications if not administered properly.

"There is no approved therapy for Covid-19 in the country including Plasma therapy. Plasma therapy is being experimented with and there is no evidence to support it as a treatment. It is only at an experimental stage. If not used properly, it can create life-threatening complications," said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary health ministry.

In pics: Aerial views of cities affected by COVID-19 

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1/22 SLIDES © Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Niterói, Brazil

A near empty Rio–Niterói Bridge that connects the cities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro, on March 21.
2/22 SLIDES © Axel Heimken/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

Schönberg, Germany

Clouds move over a deserted beach on March 16.

3/22 SLIDES © Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo

Lima, Peru

A highway exchange stands empty of traffic on March 18.

4/22 SLIDES © Darko Bandic/AP Photo

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The main street in the medieval old town, which would normally be full of tourists and residents, but is now empty due to travel and other restrictions, on March 17.

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5/22 SLIDES © Stephanie McGehee/Reuters

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Very little traffic is seen on the roads of the city after the country entered a virtual lockdown on March 16.

6/22 SLIDES © Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Istanbul, Turkey

A drone photo shows a nearly empty Sultanahmet Square on March 18.

7/22 SLIDES © Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images

Quito, Ecuador

The exercise area and the athletic track at the Carolina park, which was closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, on March 15.

8/22 SLIDES © Javier Mamani/Getty Images

La Paz, Bolivia

A nearly empty downtown on March 18.

9/22 SLIDES © Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Miami Beach, Florida, US

A few people walk along the ocean in an area of South Beach on March 16.

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10/22 SLIDES © Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Richmond, California, US

The parking lot at Hilltop Mall sits empty on March 17.

11/22 SLIDES © Nicolò Campo/LightRocket/Getty Images

Turin, Italy

Deserted roads can be seen in this north Italian town on March 15.

12/22 SLIDES © Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images

Dubai, UAE

An empty Al Qudra cycling track on March 18.

13/22 SLIDES © Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

Dubai, UAE

Cars drive on a highway on March 15.

14/22 SLIDES © Jeenah Moon/Reuters

New York City, New York, US

An empty street in Manhattan on March 15.

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15/22 SLIDES © Omar Marques/Getty Images

Kraków, Poland

Jagiellonian University's new campus during the two-week closure of universities, schools, museums and other public facilities, on March 13.

16/22 SLIDES © Sam Bagnall/AMA/Getty Images

Piraeus, Greece

An empty Karaiskakis Stadium, the home stadium of Olympiacos F.C., on March 12.

17/22 SLIDES © Gent Shkullaku/AFP/Getty Images

Tirana, Albania

An aerial view shows an empty outer ring road on March 13.

18/22 SLIDES © Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images

Bangkok, Thailand

Unused tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 8.

19/22 SLIDES © STR/AFP/Getty Images

Wuhan, China

An empty street in China's Hubei province on March 10.

20/22 SLIDES © Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images

Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

A deserted Angkor Wat temple on March 5.

21/22 SLIDES © Bandar Aldandani/AFP/Getty Images

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

An empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba in Grand Mosque on March 6.

22/22 SLIDES © Getty Images

Wuhan, China

An aerial view shows empty roads and bridges in the city on Feb. 3.

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The health ministry official said that the country's top medical research body was conducting a study to find out the efficacy of plasma therapy and till then, doctors are advised to use it only for trial purposes.

"Plasma therapy is only to be used for research and trial purposes until an ICMR study on its efficacy is completed. ICMR is conducting a nation-wide research to study the efficacy of Plasma therapy," he added.

Government's word of caution on plasma therapy comes at a time when several instances of it helping in virus-infected patients' recovery have been reported. The Plasma therapy has been used selectively so far, mostly in severe cases where patients were on ventilator support.

Use of plasma therapy involves injecting blood-component plasma extracted from a cured coronavirus patient into a positive case. The plasma of a cured patient is considered to carry virus-fighting antibodies which boost the immune system's response to the disease. Plasma is the almost-clear liquid left behind after red and white blood cells and platelets are removed from the blood.

Convalescent plasma therapy uses a blood component called plasma, which contains the virus-fighting antibodies, from people who have recovered from the infection to treat those who are severely ill with Covid-19

Several Covid-19 fighting medical care centres in India are reported to have started banking plasma from coronavirus recovered patients after its use was said to have shown positive results.

A few days ago, Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain had reported that six critical coronavirus patients had "nearly recovered" after administration of the plasma therapy. On April 26, it was reported that Mumbai's Lilavati hospital, too, had identified Maharashtra's first patient to be given the therapy.

One of Delhi's designated coronavirus hospital, Lok Nayak hospital is already using the plasma therapy and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is reported is to getting ready to start it for those with severe Covid-19 infections. 

Follow the government's latest guidance on safeguarding yourself during the coronavirus pandemic, including travel advice within and outside the country. The World Health Organization has also busted some myths surrounding coronavirus. The Ministry of Health's special helpline is available at +91-11-23978046, ncov2019@gmail.com and ncov2019@gov.in.

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