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One of the few designated Regional Transfusion Centres in the state of Tamilnadu, the 24-hour K.G. Hospital Regional Blood Bank occupies an area of 1750 sq feet with state-of-the-art equipment and the latest in technology to render blood safer for transfusion.
This is the second Blood Bank in India to incorporate gel technology from Switzerland for blood grouping and cross-matching. The technology is highly advanced and provides accurate results among other features, thus bringing the Blood Bank on par with those in the western countries.
Every unit of blood collected at the Blood Bank is tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, malaria and SGPT. A high SGPT value can denote the presence of Hepatitis C virus even if the result is negative when testing for antibodies to the virus. In addition, blood is tested for Cytomegalo virus when blood is transfused to transplant patients.
The Blood Bank has an excellent component preparation unit, where a unit of blood can be separated into 4 basic components - Packed Red Cells, Platelet Concentrate, Fresh Frozen Plasma and Cryoprecipitate. The separation is done using a special, sophisticated automatic component extractor which gives consistent volumes and maximum yield of components. Component separation, apart from providing the right component for a patient's needs, also helps in the optimal use of scarce blood resources while minimising unwanted reactions. The ACE machine can also remove the buffy coat (which contains leucocytes) from the packed red cells. This leuco-depletion cuts short transfusion reactions by 90 %, thereby enhancing patient safety.
The K.G. Regional Blood Bank caters to the needs of more than 250 hospitals and nursing homes not only in and around Coimbatore, but also to those in neighbouring districts and states like Periyar, Nilgiris and Kerala. Blood and blood components are issued free of cost to all thalassaemic and haemophilic patients and is given free or at concessional rates to poor patients.
The demand for blood is always more than the supply and therefore blood donation camps are conducted on a regular basis, where in addition to blood donation, donors are educated about the various aspects of voluntary blood donation. Donor motivation and retention is an important activity in which the Blood Bank is involved.
The K.G. Regional Blood Bank never compromises on the quality of its blood and blood components, for , "QUALITY" as its aptly put, is a journey ................... not a destination !!
Frequent blood donation safe
NEW DELHI: Suresh Kamdas has broken a myth - that donating blood frequently lowers a person's immunity, making him prone to infections.
The 75-year-old, who first donated blood in 1962, is part of a select club of centurion donors - he has donated blood over 150 times. And he has now taken on the task of propagating the benefits of frequent voluntary blood donation.
"During the 1962 Sino-Indian war, I had gone to the National Medical Academy to see a friend. To my horror, I saw an old woman lying around, waiting for somebody to donate blood because her four sons had refused.
Her plight pushed me into donating blood for the first time. I realized how donating just one unit of blood can save somebody else's life. I have been donating blood voluntarily ever since,"Kamdas, who will be felicitated by the Indian Red Cross Society on Saturday, said.
Kamdas, who donated for the final time in 2000, added,"It's all a myth that donating blood makes you weak or diseased. In fact, the blessings you get from the family you donate for will keep all diseases away."
Experts say a serious shortage of people like Kamdas in India is the cause behind the country's abysmally low voluntary blood donation rate.
India requires 9 million units of blood annually but collects only 6 million. And just 53% of this is through voluntary donation. It was 45% in 2002.
Several countries in the region fare better than India - 90% of the blood collected in Nepal is through voluntary camps while it is 95% for Thailand, 77% for Indonesia, 60% for Sri Lanka and 57% in Myanmar.
Dr Rajesh Bhatia, regional advisor to the World Health Organization on blood safety, says a person can donate blood once every three months, will have to between 18-60 years of age, should weigh not less than 45 kg and should not have suffered from HIV, Hepatitis B and C.
"Almost 47% of the blood collected in India is through replacement donors - those who give blood only when it is required by his family or friends. Voluntary donation is yet to pick up. The 450 ml of blood donated is regenerated by the body within 2-3 days. Donating blood regularly does not make you prone to diseases,"Dr Bhatia adds.
Top KG Blood Donors.
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