Blood Collection

o The Madras Medical Mission’s donor complex has facilities for anonymous and directed donations and remains open throughout the day. Pre- and post-donation counseling is accessible.
o Blood is collected only from voluntary donors who satisfy our stringent selection criteria and after proper screening tests for infectious diseases. The Madras Medical Mission’s blood centre meets all the standards set by the Central Authorities NBTC, State Authorities NACO, ISO, and NABH for blood centres.
o The Department also has the facility to register donors for an emergency panel to meet requirements when a specific blood group crisis occurs.
o The Department of Transfusion Medicine also organizes voluntary donation camps in various institutions, providing grouping cards & certificates to all voluntary blood donors.

Component Separation

Blood component separation enables optimum utilization of a minimal resource & promotes rational use of blood.

Blood and Blood Products Available in Blood Centre

o Leucodepleted Whole Human Blood o Leucodepleted Packed Red Blood Cells o Fresh Frozen Plasma o Cryo Precipitate o Platelet Concentrate

Transfusion-Transmitted Infection Screening

All donor units are screened for transfusion-transmissible infections such as HIV I & II Ag-Ab, HBs Ag, HCV Ag - Ab, Anti HBc (T), using the advanced Abbott Architect i1000SR system, syphilis (VDRL) by RPR method, Malaria antigen by rapid card method and Antibody Screening (3 cell panel) with IH-500 Bio Rad. Any confirmed infected donors were counseled and referred to further healthcare.

Antibody Screening Test & Antibody Identification

o Irregular Antibody is detected using 3 cell panel – DiaCel I II III.
o If screening test is positive and/or incompatible cross-match detected, antibody identification should be performed using a reagent 11 cell panel that covers all the significant antigens.
o If incompatible cross-match detected then the corresponding antigen negative blood has to be provided for safe transfusion.

Quality Control

Quality control is of paramount importance at The Madras Medical Mission. In order to ensure provision of safe and quality blood, regular quality control checks are done for all reagents, antisera, blood components and equipment. The department also participates in an external quality assurance EQAS & and Inter-Laboratory Comparison based on NBTC/NACO guideline and NABH & NABL Standards.

Facilities to Assure Safe Blood and Blood Components

o The Madras Medical Mission’s Transfusion Medicine - Blood Centre facility uses advanced CMIA technique to assure patients of safe blood and blood components.
o The ARCHITECT PLUS (Abbott) and EVOLIS TWIN PLUS (Bio-rad) fully-automated for transfusion-transmitted, infection testing system helps to prevent transmission of infection.
o The IH-500 (Bio-rad) fully-automated for Immunoheamatology is used for cross-matching, Antibody Screening with 3 cell panel, Antibody Identification with 11 cell panel and Direct Coombs tests, Indirect Coombs tests, Rh Antibody Titre and A & B Antibody Titration.
o Platelet incubators and agitators are used to store platelets at 22˚C ± 2˚C and agitate them constantly to avoid platelet aggregation.
o The CRYOFUGE refrigerated centrifuge separates blood components from whole blood effectively.
o Plasma freezers maintain the potency of clotting factors.
o The MACOPRESS & T-ACE II are automatic blood components separators and help to harvest high-quality blood products.
o The SYSMEX fully-automated cell counter is used to check RBC, WBC, hemoglobin & platelet count.
o INLINE FILTER BAGS are used for Leucodepleted Whole Human Blood & Leucodepleted Packed Red Blood Cells.
o HEMOCUE 301 for Donor Hemoglobin test