Burla: Raising serious concerns over the quality of treatment at one of the most important hospitals of Western Odisha-Burla Medical, 2 patients were transfused with HIV and Hepatitis-infected blood.
Investigations reveled that while the ELISA test report clearly indicated that the blood was HIV positive, the same blood was later given to another patient by the authorities. As per available information on e-blood bank website of the Burla medical, one donor donated blood on June 10. The same was recorded with the serial number 6915. Then the same blood packet bearing serial number 6915 was brought to be given to a patient from Rairakhole of Sambalpur.
Surprisingly, the ELISA report on the blood bearing 6915 serial number clearly stated that it was HIV positive. As per allegations, the same blood was given to the aforesaid patient. Similarly, another patient was also transfused with Hepatitis-infected blood.
“The patient was having some stomach problems and he had an operation here. The operation was conducted on June 9 and we were told that blood was needed on June 10. Then we arranged the blood for the patient,” said the patient’s relative.
While the superintendent of the Burla Medical, who is on leave, was informed about the issue, he said that if we receive a complaint, we will initiate probe into the matter.
Meanwhile Chittaranjan Prasad the associate professor of transfusion medicine at the hospital said “When there is an urgent requirement we conduct an ‘Rapid Test and do not wait for the ELISA test. The Rapid test showed the blood as HIV negative. The whole incident needs to be investigated. Tests should also be conducted on the donor to find out any kind of infection.”
Amidst such negligence serious doubts are being raised on the tests that are being conducted on collected blood at the hospital.
“The hospital authorities should conduct either of the two tests – Rapid or ELISA. They should conduct an ELISA test and at the least Rapid test. Otherwise it is a criminal offence,” said Capital Hospital Blood Bank officer Debasis Mishra.