Blood sold in UP found contaminated

Nearly 70 units of blood with fake labels of the state’s largest blood bank at King George’s Medical College (KGMC) were seized.

Since the date of collection and expiry was missing on all the bags, samples for a detailed examination were sent to Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

Analysis of the adulterated samples reveals the quality of blood as extremely poor. The levels of hemoglobin are very low with the Hepatitis virus strains present.

Beside the blood quantity being less than indicated on the bag, the blood groups did not tally with the labeling and there were signs of improper storage of blood samples.

According to official sources, "SGPGIMS laboratory, in its report, had confirmed that all the samples sent for testing were infected and poor in component."

The report was also submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of United States.

The modus operandi
The operation was sleek, with all minute details taken into consideration. The raid in Thakurganj area, the dubious collection and distribution center, unearthed syringes, saline bottles, wrappers of registered hospitals and blood banks, stickers of blood groups, and other instruments used for blood donation.

Agents would scout for professional donors like drug addicts, the poor and needy in the slums and railway stations, luring them with a measly sum of Rs 50 and Rs 100. They would then draw the blood and mix it in saline and ordinary water.

The adulterated blood was subsequently supplied to various hospitals in Lucknow, Basti, Faizabad and Sitapur at Rs 1,000-1,500 per unit.

What is appalling is that the operation was being run with the help of several well-known private blood banks and doctors.

Dr A.K. Shukla, chief medical officer of Lucknow said, "We found that even ward boys and paramedical staff at government hospitals were involved in the racket. They referred needy people to these adulterators. Sadly, a large number of people must have suffered due to the spurious blood."

Blood banks and hospitals under the scanner
Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested six persons of the 14-member gang supplying “untested and unusable blood” to private hospitals, nursing homes and government hospitals in the city.

What is cause for concern is that over a period of a year, 100,000 units of the contaminated blood was sold which could have affected nearly one lakh persons.

A joint team of the FDA and police conducted surprise inspections of many private hospitals and blood banks across the city and a show-cause notice was issued to three blood banks.

“Charak Pathology, Indira Diagnostic Centre and Kohli Blood Bank were found functioning without proper facilities of blood extraction and storage. They were also not having proper certificates,” an FDA official said.