 "Roche launches safe blood transfusion drive in UP")
Domestic in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) market leader Roche Diagnostics India (RDI) has started a campaign for safe blood access in Uttar Pradesh (UP) through Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (NAT).
It has collaborated with Lucknow-based King George's Medical University (KGMU) for the purpose.
A recent report by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) revealed UP had recorded the highest number of 361 HIV cases due to blood transfusion.
Studies show that inadequately screened blood and unsafe blood transfusion could lead to transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) such as HIV, Hepatitis B&C etc.
Roche NAT solution enables screening of donated blood, to reduce the risk of TTIs in patients receiving blood.
RDI Head (Medical and Scientific Affairs) Sandeep Sewlikar said lives could be at risk if blood transfusion process is not done under stringent quality checks or if blood is not completely safe. "Asking for NAT-tested blood will help safeguard lives should there be any need for a blood transfusion."
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KGMU Head (Department of Transfusion Medicine) Tulika Chandra claimed NAT significantly reduced TTI associated morbidity and mortality.
So far, RDI has taken its NAT solution to Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Manipur, Haryana, Punjab and Maharashtra.
Over 2,000 people were infected with HIV while getting blood transfusion in the past 17 months in other parts of India.