Bengaluru, Apr 25 (IANS): City-based BMC Victoria Hospital is poised to take the first steps in assessing the efficacy of plasma therapy for Covid-19 patients on Saturday, Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu said on Friday.

"BMC Victoria hospital will take the first step for the project (convalescent plasma treatment trials on Covid-19 patients) on Saturday at 8 a.m.," tweeted Sriramulu.

The Health Minister said Karnataka is taking a lead role to test the efficiency of the therapy.

"Proud to inform you all that Karnataka is taking a lead role to initiate Phase-I clinical trials to use convalescent plasma therapy for severe Covid infected patients," Sriramulu said.

Convalescent plasma therapy is being deployed as an experimental procedure to treat Covid-19 patients with the infusion of plasma from recovered patients.

Sriramulu said Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar will be present at the BMC Victoria Hospital on Saturday along with him.

"We are determined to vanquish this enemy of mankind. Karnataka will lead the way. My colleague MLA Sudhakar will be there with me as we make this historic move," he said.