Blood safety for Thalassemic child: Utmost importance
Due to repeated blood transfusions such patients are at risk of infections (especially like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C) They are also vulnerable to transfusion reactions such as rashes, fever, chills, blood pressure fluctuations, breathlessness and sometimes serious allergic reactions.
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Thalassemia is a genetic disorder with defective blood formation. These children need blood every 15-20 days. Their quality of life is compromised due to dependency on blood transfusions. However, with support of safe blood and financial assistance, they can live a close-to-normal life.
Donor’s blood is a nature’s gift but is life-saving only after safe processing.
Due to repeated blood transfusions such patients are at risk of infections (especially like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C) They are also vulnerable to transfusion reactions such as rashes, fever, chills, blood pressure fluctuations, breathlessness and sometimes serious allergic reactions.
Hence blood centres usually take utmost precautions to provide safe blood to thalassemics.
Collected blood is separated into components. Transfusion of whole blood is not recommended. Use of automated equipment in component separation will further enhance the quality and safety of components for thalassemics.
White cells from donors’ blood can cause harmful reactions in patients. Hence methods employed for blood component separation should be such that white cells will be removed. Ultra-modern techniques with special filters are also available in India to ensure maximum removal of white cells. Their use should be encouraged.
Blood units are stored under continuous temperature monitoring at 2-6 degrees Celcius till it is transfused. Units collected within one week from collection day are the best choice for thalassemics.
Multiple transfusions can generate multiple antibodies in child's blood. Hence blood grouping and matching the blood unit with patient’s blood by standard methods is very crucial and has to be done with utmost care.
ELISA test is a mandatory in India for screening donors’ blood for diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Beyond ELISA, the globally most advanced test is Nucleic Acid Test (NAT ) which provides an additional layer of safety in screening donors’ blood for these diseases.
It's not rare to find hepatitis and HIV in these children because of blood transfusion. Preference to NAT testing beyond ELISA is utmost essential as these children undergo repeated transfusions throughout their life ( A thalassemic child gets 250 blood transfusions by 15 years).
Irradiation facility adds further safety by de-activating white cells, if any, have remained after processing. This further helps to reduce transfusion reactions.
Ultra-modern, state-of-art blood centres in India are following all above mentioned measures to ensure transfusion of safe blood for thalassemics. It adds to quality to their life.
Do support thalassemia children in whatever way you can, so that they get safe blood and survive well by your contribution!
Dr. Tanvi Yardi
Quality Manager
Jankalyan Blood Centre, Pune