Blood banks run out of kits

All blood banks supported by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) are buying HIV ELISA (human immunodeficiency virus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits, which are used to identify HIV-antibodies in the blood, from other sources as the organisation has run out of them. NACO has informed the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) that the supply of the kits would resume only after March 31.

According to documents that are in the possession of The Asian Age, the Sion Hospital blood bank, in an email to the Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society (MDACS), has stated, “We don’t have HIV kits, so kindly try to as early as possible to mobilise the kits.” In reply to this, Dr Seema P. Todur, quality manager (blood safety), MDACS, provided contacts of NACO-approved suppliers to provide National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) validated kits to all the blood banks.

“Currently, we buy the test kits from NACO-authorised supplier SD Bioline. As per the NACO guideline, we pay '6, as per the rates of the kits per test,” said a doctor from the Sion blood bank.

Confirming the news, Dr Todur said, “Due to delay in supply from NACO, all NACO-supported blood banks are facing a shortage. But according to an email reply from NACO, the kits will be supplied by the end of March.”

“We have mailed all blood banks the contacts of the authorised supplier that follow the guidelines of NARI,” she added.

Every year, MSACS collects more than 1.5 lakh units of blood that need immediate testing of HIV ELISA. Through this test, the blood banks identify HIV-infected blood to curb HIV infection through blood transfusion.

In fact, delay in the test deters the chances of identifying HIV-positive blood, said medical experts.

“All donated blood has to undergo the test to identify infected blood. Delay in testing can affect the early identification of such infected blood. Also, the delays reduce the chances of classifying positive blood and if such blood is transfused, more people can get infected by it,” said a doctor from the Red Cross Society under the condition of anonymity.

The first email about the crisis was sent by MSACS to NACO on October 12, 2015. But no response was received in spite of another email being sent on November 3, 2015. Finally, replying to an email sent on December 15, 2015, Dr Harprit Singh, NPO, Blood Transfusion Services, NACO, said, “As mentioned in the previous communication it may not be possible to supply the kits before end of the fourth quarter of the financial year. As mentioned in the communication, you are requested to procure kits at your level for the time being. Minimum technical standards of kits should be followed.”

What is HIV ELISA To identify HIV antibodies in blood, firstly a person needs to undergo rapid antigen tests (RDTs). Once it is done, a confirmatory test enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is done. However, some researchers consider ELISA tests to be more accurate than RDTs.