Sakaal Times
12 July 2010
Pune, India

Well–equipped blood banks and blood storage centres in peripheral areas can curtail maternal mortality rate, if provided with proper cold chain maintenance during transport and storage, insisted national assessor for blood banks Dr Dilip Wani.

He was speaking at the fourth Think Tank meeting of Pune Obstetric and Gynaecological Society (POGS) on Sunday. "Cold chain maintenance during transport from blood bank to hospital and at hospital is must. Blood storage centres at talukas should have these facilities to avoid bacterial infection," said Dr Wani, Professor of Pathology at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Chairman of Jankalyan Chain of Blood Banks and Medical Services.

Speaking on the need of more storage centres in peripheral regions, Wani said, "In urban areas, blood banks have facilities. However, surgeries do take place in talukas as well, and storage blood banks are required to fulfill the need of safe blood as per demand. Particularly in case of deliveries, blood can be required at any time."

The concept of storage blood bank had emerged four years ago. More storage blood banks are needed in Pune district, said Wani, even with four mother blood banks and 15 storage blood banks operational.

Blood Centre
Not less than 10 sq mtr is needed for a blood storage centre. Equipment includes a refrigerator, platelet agitator cum incubator, generators, equipment for grouping and cross–matching, thermograph, temperature indicator, audiovisual alarm device.