All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has ordered an inquiry into allegations that blood platelet count tests in its laboratory were being done by laboratory and hospital attendants, who are just matriculates.
This has also raised questions about the correctness of the test reports done in the lab of the country’s premier medical institute. The inquiry is being conducted by a four-member committee under the chairmanship of Dr NK Mehra, Head of the Department of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.
Meanwhile, the Head of Department lab Medicines Dr AK Mukhopadhyay, defended his department and said blood tests are being done on automated machines under the supervision of laboratory technicians and doctors. It is wrong to attribute that untrained staff is involved in doing the pathological tests.
Sources said that Standard X pass attendants were operating automated machines used for blood tests. Pathalogical unit of the AIIMS has been hard-pressed to carry out blood tests, especially the blood platelet counts with Dengue patients flooding the hospital. It would be pertinent to mention that according to established rules and regulations of AIIMS, laboratory or hospital attendants are not allowed to carry out such tests or operate such sensitive cell-counting machines.