Regional Blood Bank
The Regional Blood Bank, Pasteur Institute, Shillong was set up to meet the existing demand from different health Institutions both Government and Private under the licence No-34/DR 1966.
The Zonal Blood Testing Centre (ZBTC) was established in 1990, for testing Blood samples from various Blood Banks for HIV antibodies.
In 1990, the first Sero-reactive case sample was detected since then the HIV Sero Positive rate has been increasing.
In 2001, Regional Blood Bank, Pasteur Institute was identified for setting up of the Blood Component Separation Unit vide letter No.S120011/1/2001 - NACO(BS), Government of India dated 30th March, 2001.
The process of Installation of each and every component of Blood Component Separation Unit is being taken up. One of the prerequisites for applying a license in this connection others being the appointment of one Technical Advisor by Meghalaya AIDS Control Society and one from the State Government. Proposal in this regard has been sent to the Government vide our letter No.DHS(R)/Estt/2009-10/2193. Dated Shillong the 30/04/2009.
Renewal of Blood Bank Licence, Pasteur Institute, Shillong for a period from 1.01.2007-31.12.2011 has been applied vide our letter No.DHS(R)/BB/DL/48/08/4929 Dt. Shillong the 1st December, 2008.
The main objective of the Blood Bank is to collect, test, store and issue whole blood on demand to the Government or Non Government Health Institution to save the lives of those who are in dire need of blood. Blood is collected from Voluntary Donors and replacement Donors. Regional Blood Bank functions 24 hours to ensure adequate, quality and safe Blood for All.
The Regional Blood Bank also conducts various trainings under different schemes-
- Comprehensive Laboratory Technology for in-service Laboratory Technicians.
- Intensive training for Medical Officers and Laboratory Technicians of other Blood Bank in the State.
- Laboratory Testing for HIV under Programmes sponsored by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society from time to time.
- Workshop on External Quality Assurance Schemes (EQAS) once a year in collaboration with the National Institute on Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata.
- Training under RCH-II for the purpose of setting up First Referral Units (FRUS). Regional Blood Bank acts as a State Reference Laboratory and played an important role in analyzing or testing the samples from the different Centres during the annual Sentinel Surveillance conducted by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society.
Wednesday Voluntary Blood Donation Camp:
The increasing demand of blood in the Maternal and Child Health sector has been significant and with the plan for setting up First Referral Units(FRUS) in our state the Regional Blood Bank, Pasteur Institute being the mother or Parent Blood Bank will have to supply blood to all these units, the increasing need of blood in other sectors viz. Trauma Centers, Cancer Centers, Surgical operations, medical needs for management of various blood disorders such as severe Anaemia, Bleeding cases, Haemophilia, Thalassaemos, Purpura etc., may add to the existing load of the Regional Blood Bank. However, Blood is neither synthesized nor manufactured. There is no substitute for human blood. Blood cannot be stored for long. There is a constant need for blood donation to meet the demand of blood. Therefore, Voluntary Blood Donation is the foundation for adequate, quality and safe blood for all. Over the years, Pasteur Institute Regional Blood Bank was involved in many outreached Voluntary Blood Donation Camps in collaboration with various organizations or society, and very few camps in the Pasteur Institute-Regional Blood Bank that were held irregular during the National Blood Donation Day, World Blood Donor's Day or other special occasions. According to the theme of the last National Blood Donation Day is "Phasing out of Replacement Practice and Encouraging Voluntary Blood Donation".
In view of above, it has been decided to hold regular Wednesday Voluntary Blood Donation Camp in the Campus itself and the First Wednesday Voluntary Blood Donation Camp was launched on the 13th May 2009 and the response was positive and the Ai Jingim Voluntary Blood Donation Organisation has taken part and the 2nd Wednesday Voluntary Blood Donation Camp was held on the 20th May 2009 and St. Edmunds College has taken part. However, this needs wide public awareness and it is suggested that IEC in this aspect be intensified by the Department concerned.
Performance during the years 2004-2005 to 2008-2009
| Period | Blood Units | Cross Matching | ABO or Rh Grouping |
HIV tests | HBsAg tests |
H.V.C. tests |
Syphilis | MP | Donation camp | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collected | Issued | |||||||||
| 2004-2005 | 1480 | 1450 | 3257 | 5860 | 1480 | 1522 | 1480 | 1582 | 1480 | - |
| 2005-2006 | 1216 | 1199 | 2967 | 4783 | 1216 | 1281 | 1216 | 1298 | 1216 | - |
| 2006-2007 | 1773 | 1710 | 3444 | 6439 | 1773 | 1851 | 1773 | 1918 | 1773 | - |
| 2007-2008 | 2091 | 2010 | 4841 | 7835 | 2091 | 2142 | 2091 | 2225 | 2091 | - |
| 2008-2009 | 1225 | 1177 | 2808 | 4864 | 1268 | 1278 | 1225 | 1378 | 1225 | 12 |
For improvement in infrastructure, functioning and Blood Banking services -
Steps taken:
- Blood Component Separation Unit
- Infrastructure completed.
- Equipments fully acquired.
- Manpower appointed accordingly.
- Licence is being applied for Blood component
- Packed Cell Blood
- Plasma
- Platelets
- Cryoprecipitates