Mumbai: Blood banks run out of Hepatitis C testing kits, single blood bags

What do you do if the main regulating agency that ensures proper blood transfusion runs out of testing kits? Well, Mumbaikars need to be more careful while blood transfusion as 21 blood banks under Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) in Mumbai has ran out of Hepatitis C testing kits and single blood bags.

Representational Pic

An email sent to all major blood banks including KEM, Sion, Nair, Rajawadi, Cama hopsitals and others stating that "This is to inform you that presently MDACS does not have HCV ELISA kits and single blood bags. You will be informed when MDACS receives the supply from NACO." The email was sent by Dr Seema P Todur, quality manager (Blood Safety), Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society.

A senior doctor from the Blood Bank of KEM hospital confirming the news said, "We have received the email from MSACS yesterday. Currently, we are running on our own stocks but don't know how long it will last. Since May, there is a shortage in the supply of kits and single blood bags."

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver. One can get hepatitis C through contact with an infected person's blood. It gets inside people's body just like the sources of the virus of HIV. It is the deadliest form of Hepatitis.

As per the rules of NACO, all donated blood needs to undergo compulsory testing of Hepatitis C to avoid any tainted transfusion. Unavailability of the kits raises the concern about the risk of getting infected blood transfusion.

Commenting on it, a doctor said, "If a blood is not tested immediately after donation and with passing time, positive blood bags of Hepatitis would show negative. There is a specific time period for it's testing. This is lead to transfusion of infected blood."

"It would also delay testing of donated blood that would further deteriorate the condition as already blood banks are suffering from blood shortage," he added.

Refuting the claim, Dr Srikala Acharya, Director of MSACS said, "There is no shortage of kits or blood bags. We have sent all the kits to the blood banks."