Due to poor storage, 1mn units of blood go waste

Hyderabad: One million units of blood are discarded in the country every year because of poor storage facilities, according to the data collected by the ministry of health and family welfare. An analysis shows that poor storage facilities are one of the major reasons for the blood getting spoilt. Deterioration of blood during storage, discolouration and bacterial contamination are the result of the deficiency in the facility.

A senior drug control officer said, “The handling of blood and storage facilities need to be improved. Changing weather conditions are one of the major reasons for blood going waste. Maintenance is also an issue in old units, both in government and private sectors, which needs to be assssed at regular intervals. It is for this reason that there is a lot of stress on accredited institutes to ensure all safety methods are followed and wastage avoided.”

Drug controllers say their major problem is accentuated in the summer months as high temperatures make storing blood even more difficult — plus of course the frequent power cuts and overly stressed power back-ups failing . 

A senior drug controller said, “Blood banks have to check their power systems before the summer sets in, because power failures lead to discarding of the blood.”

Maintenance of blood banks is the responsibility of the health departments of states. State blood bank councils have to regularly check the quality of blood. A major part of the blood stored comes from voluntary donation and also replacement donation — which account for a collection of 9.9 million units every year. This, however, is not enough volume to meet the country’s requirement of 12 million units. 

Pathologist Dr B. Geetha said, “It requires effective management of blood banks along with following of regular protocols for maintenance of equipment and the facility itself. Ensuring proper temperatures at the storage and effective handling of the units will help to keep the blood safe.”