Re: 6 kids get HIV during blood transfusion in Rajasthan

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/11160

Six children suffering from thalassemia have reportedly contracted the Human

Immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) during blood transfusion in Rajasthan.

Such reports are very alarming and extremely disturbing and may keep appearing

time and again. We need to ensure a concerted collective action to minimize all

possibilities of such unfortunate developments.

 

Many states /organizations are working on various ways to reduce window

periods of the transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs including, but not

limited to, HIV) by adoption of latest generation testing kits, state of the art

technology like Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) in endeavours which must be supported

through mobilization of financial and other resources from all possible

quarters.

 

We know that HIV is just one of the TTIs amongst the possible hundreds of them

(only five are tested mandatorily in India) which may be introduced to the

recipient of blood/blood components through transfusion of infected blood.

 

The best managerial solution, besides stringent testing of blood; to such

problems ,therefore, lies in robust screening of donors and promotion of blood

donation by repeat, voluntary, non-remunerated altruistic blood donors from a

pool of   " safe' donor base.

 

The problem of window period is largely taken care of during the subsequent

blood donation of the 'regular' donor after a period of 3/6/9 months when s/he

donates blood purely with the sole motive of saving lives of others without any

pressure familial/societal or otherwise.

The aware/enlightened blood donor will ensure 'self deferral' in case of any

reasons which mandate his/her withdrawal from the act of donating blood.

Such generation of awareness with society at large in general, and

with (associations of) voluntary blood donors and VBD camp organizers in

particular, will go a long way in obviating introduction of HIV/HBV/HCV and

hundreds of other possible TTIs in persons having chronic needs of blood due to

conditions like thalassemia, haemophilia etc. besides the patients needing

blood/components for myriad other indications.

 

We in the state of Gujarat are, inter alia, working in a series of 'workshops'

for:-

(1)Ensuring best quality of outdoor VBD camps,

 

(2)Developing a shared vision amongst blood bankers, repeat/regular NRVB donors

and VBD camp organizers about 100% VBD with a focus on :-

 

(A) Definite advantages of voluntary donation over replacement donation,

 

( Disadvantages of donation by relatives (higher prevalence and probability of

TTIs, sharing of simplified concept of Transfusion Associated–Graft versus

Host Disease [TA-GVHD]-a killer disease caused JUST because the donor happens to

be close relative of the patient)

 

© Chances of a professional blood " donor " (commercial blood seller in reality)

masquerading as a replacement/relative donor.

 

(3)Switching over to tube testing with forward and reverse grouping in blood

banks only and not at camp sites (donor card not to be insisted upon by the camp

organizers with use of slide tests with likelihood of errors in grouping)

 

(4)Development of micro-plans in a tri-partite manner to ensure periodic VBD

camps to meet the actual requirements of the blood banks/geographical areas in a

realistic manner.

 

We shall be sharing the results of the deliberations, debates, quiz competitions

etc. held in the seven such workshops successfully organized with the VBD camp

organizers after completion of the remaining two regional workshops.

 

Best wishes,

 

Dr.Rajesh Gopal.

e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...>