Ahmedabad: Blood transfusion second highest cause for infection

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Dear Forum,

Ahmedabad :

Mitesh,12, undergoes at least 20 blood transfusions in a year for thalassemia.

One such life-saving transfusion gave him AIDS. Mitesh was among the five

thalassemic kids who contracted the deadly disease in July last year and now

almost a year later their families are yet to come to terms with it an instance

when borrowed life seems like a curse.

The latest figures of Ahmedabad Aids Control Society (AACS) reveals that blood

transfusion happens to be second highest cause for HIV infection in Ahmedabad

after sexual encounters.

In just one and half years, 316 children below the age of 14 contracted HIV

virus through blood transfusions alone. Nearly 2,719 children, in the same age

group, had turned up for voluntary HIV tests in the same period after undergoing

blood transfusions in the city fearing infection.

But, are there ways to prevent such tragedies? State health department was

recently approached by blood banks and especially Red Cross society to help them

set up a Nucleus Acid Test (NAT) unit at major dispensing centres. These tests

can detect the HIV virus in the inactive state, before the blood is injected

into the needy patients.

" One sure way is to make it mandatory for all blood transfusion centres to

assign a certain group of trusted donors to thalassemic

children. A child needs at least 20 transfusions in a year, " believes Jagruti

foundation secretary Anil Khatri.

The danger lies when the donor donates blood during the three-month window

period after having contracted HIV virus. No conventional test can detect the

virus at this stage. When blood goes into cold storage, the virus is inactive

and when finally injected into a

recipient patient, it manages to complete the window period, and turns positive

after sometime.

" Since these tests cost almost Rs 1,000, they burn a hole in the pocket for

many. We have requested state government to formulate a

system which is affordable, " says Mahesh Trivedi, Red Cross society secretary

for Ahmedabad.

The only other option, however, is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests that

are costlier than NAT. Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has

one unit which is yet to become operational.

" PCR is a costly affair. Generally, we avoid recommending PCR as it would become

a liability for the government. Each tests costs close to Rs 2,000, " says a

senior civil hospital doctor.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4610472,prtpage-1.cms

____________________

Ravi. B

Shelter

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