THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The expert panel headed by joint DME has attributed the lack of state of the art testing facilities to the incident in which a nine-years-old girl received HIV infected blood allegedly during blood transfusion at the RCC. The joint DME Dr Sreekumari who submitted the report to health minister K.K. Shylaja, however, stated that there were no lapses on the part of RCC in following the set procedures and protocols for blood safety during blood donation and blood transfusion. The Centre had also complied with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) guidelines regarding blood transfusion, blood safety and from the time of receiving blood from donor and transfusing it to the recipient.
As varied results were found in the previous laboratory tests, the minister called for a detailed probe by expert panel. The panel comprised ART department, pathology and blood bank. The RCC at the moment has fourth generation ELISA tests or combined anti body/antigent (Ag/Ab) test facility. However, the Elisa test detects HIV infection in four to six weeks. Experts say since blood donation during ‘window period’ is one of the main sources of transfusion linked to HIV infection, there is an urgent need to have the latest technology which reduces the window period from six weeks to just six days. As it takes two to six weeks for the immune system to develop enough HIV antibodies to be detectable, only the latest technology can help check transmission of the infection through blood transfusion.
Meanwhile, the internal inquiry conducted by the RCC has also given a clean chit to the blood bank. The panel headed by medical superintendent found that all 49 donors who had donated blood which was transfused to the girl, had undergone the mandatory screening conducted as per NACO guidelines. Besides, the blood bank had also followed all blood safety and patient safety protocols. Kerala AIDS Control Society (KSACS) had given a clean chit to RCC on Monday. The KSACS team which conducted an inquiry into the allegations found that the RCC had complied with all safety norms laid down for blood transfusion. The team examined the records and found that the protocol specified for blood transfusion and other procedures were strictly followed by RCC blood bank authorities.
