Are Blood Transfusions Safe?

The latest National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) report reveals a 10 per cent rise in the number of HIV cases through blood tranfusion in the past one year in India. Highlighting the risks associated with unsafe blood transfusions, Sumit Bagaria, CEO, Hemogenomics opines that the solution is ID-NAT (Individual Donor – Nucleic Acid Testing), an international standard blood screening test.

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We are aware that blood transfusions are required for surgery, trauma and loss of blood (accidents or other causes), some types of cancer, thalassemia etc. Most of us also believe that that blood obtained through a blood bank is 100 per cent safe and can be transfused to our near and dear ones. It is therefore a serious cause for concern that there is a rise of infections like HIV, Hepatitis B&C etc. being transfused through blood. The latest National Aids Control Organisation (NACO)released report in response to an RTI request reveal that 14,474 cases of HIV has been caused due to unsafe blood transfusion alone in India over the last seven years. Not just this, but observations from the report also reveals that there has been a 10 per cent rise in the number of HIV cases through blood transfusion over the last one year from 1,424 in 2014-15 to 1,559 in 2015-16. This shocking data brings to light the bitter truth that screened and tested blood available in blood banks might not be safe after all.

These are the number of cases which have been self reported by patients at NACO’s Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) spread across the country. There are many cases which don’t even come to light and go unreported. Apart from HIV, other dreadful diseases such as Hepatitis B&C, malaria, dengue and syphilis can also pass through blood from an infected donor to a recipient. This increase in the reporting of the spread of infections through blood transfusions is an alarming situation.