Government Plans Global Protocols, Advanced Testing, and District-Level Monitoring to Prevent Transfusion Errors
Bengaluru: The Government of Karnataka is set to introduce stringent measures to reduce blood transfusion errors across the state. The new plan includes adopting global safety protocols, making accreditation mandatory for blood banks, and appointing district-level officers to monitor blood bank operations.
The move comes following reports from Faridabad where two thalassaemia patients allegedly contracted HIV after receiving infected blood transfusions, raising concerns about blood safety standards in healthcare facilities.
Mandatory Accreditation for Blood Banks Within One Year
Under new directives issued by the Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, all blood banks in the state must obtain accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) or certification under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) programme within one year.
Authorities said that the move is aimed at ensuring that blood banks follow internationally accepted protocols for collection, testing, storage, and distribution of blood.
District-Level Officers to Monitor Blood Bank Operations
To strengthen oversight, the government will appoint senior professors from departments of blood transfusion medicine or pathology as district-level blood transfusion officers. These officers will supervise operations, ensure compliance with safety standards, and improve management of blood centres across the state.
Karnataka Has 266 Blood Centres, Majority Private
According to official data, Karnataka currently has 266 blood centres, of which 223 are privately operated.
Bengaluru has the highest concentration with 85 centres (72 private and 13 government-run). Other districts with significant numbers of blood banks include Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dakshina Kannada, and Kalaburagi.
Officials Stress Importance of International Safety Standards
Padma Basavanthappa said that accreditation will require blood banks to follow internationally recognised safety protocols.
She noted that accreditation is currently not mandatory under the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025, but the state has proposed to the central government that it should be included in the legislation to strengthen blood safety standards nationwide.
Advanced MNAT Testing for High-Risk Patients
The government will also introduce Multiplex Nucleic Acid Testing (MNAT) for patients who require frequent transfusions, such as those suffering from thalassaemia.
MNAT is considered significantly more sensitive than the commonly used ELISA test. While ELISA detects infections through antibody reactions that produce a color change, MNAT can identify infections contracted within the previous 24 hours, thereby reducing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases through blood transfusions.
Government Upgrading Equipment in Blood Banks
Harsh Gupta said the state government is purchasing MNAT systems for all government hospitals. He also confirmed that blood bank equipment across the state is being upgraded or replaced where necessary.
Officials added that existing monitoring systems, including surprise inspections conducted every three to six months by health and drug control departments, will continue alongside the new measures to ensure stricter compliance and improved patient safety.
