Regular blood donation is not only life saviour for those who need it but it also keeps a track on the health of the donor, as the donated blood is passed through five different types of tests. Senior Pathologist and in-charge of blood bank of Doon Hospital Dr SK Nautiyal informed this while interacting with The Pioneer.
A donated unit of blood is checked for infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and Malaria parasite. In the year 2013 the blood bank of Doon Hospital collected 6,360 units of blood, the bank had to destroy 113 units due to the sample failure caused by the infections.
Dr Nautiyal informed that lion’s share of donated blood comes from voluntary donations. The blood bank collected 5,212 units of blood last year by means of voluntary donations while 1,148 units of blood were collected by replacement donation. In replacement donation the relatives or friends of the patients donate blood.
The bank detected 11 cases of HIV last year while six cases have been reported till date this year in the collected blood.
Dr Nautiyal said that the donors who are found positive for any of the five types of pathological tests are called to the centre and informed about the disease. He said that the HIV positive cases are sent to the counselors of the ART centre.
The blood bank separates the donated blood immediately to three components, the Red Blood Corpuscles (RBC), Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and platelets for optimum utilisation of the collected blood. The shelf life of RBCs is 35-42 days; the FFP is one year while the platelets have a shelf life of only three to five days. Dr Nautiyal said that on average 15-20 units of blood is required daily and the bank keeps about 100 units of blood to meet any emergency arising out of mass causality.
The BPl and very poor patients are supplied blood free of charge from the blood bank of Doon Hospital while patients admitted in the Government hospital are charged Rs250. The bank charges Rs650 from the patients admitted in the private hospitals.
The patients and their relatives visiting the bank for the blood are of the view that the bank should publically display the availability of different blood groups so that transparency is maintained in the operation of blood bank.