How safe is our blood supply

[Guest guest]

I will not comment on the efforts being made to prevent the spread of HIV

and Hepatitis by the Government (through NACO), the NGOs, Corporates etc.,

but it is sad that blood transfusions are still infecting innocent and

sometimes ignorant victims. We are presently conducting a study testing

'already tested' blood with NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). Blood from donors in

8 different blood banks across India (including Private and Government

Hospitals, Commercial and Not-For-Profit Blood Banks)totalling over 10,000

samples will be tested. In the over 5000 tests already conducted, more than

1 in 800 units is infected. With components being given to multiple

recipients, and many patients being transfused with multiple units, the

risks are far greater. We should wait for the study to be completed where we

look at the actual numbers and what it means for India, but the signals are

scary.

I just thought that being World AIDS Day, I should mention this. Prevention

or cure. I think both.

Sumit Bagaria

President

Hemogenomics Pvt Ltd

551, HAL 2nd Stage,

5th Cross, Indranagar,

Bangalore - 560038, INDIA

Ph: +91-80-25264646 / 25270405

Mobile: +91-9845042005

Fax: +91-80-25270404

E-mail: <bagarias@...>