Transfusion of blood and its components is a very important part of the healthcare system. Therefore, it is necessary that the human blood and its components administered are hundred percent safe. Otherwise, instead of saving lives we will be infecting the patients with new diseases thereby endangering their lives. There is no substitute for blood. It cannot be manufactured outside the body. It has to be given person to person and we must ensure that it is donated by healthy, voluntary, non-remunerated donor, who is the only source of safe blood.

The Drugs and Cosmetics rules has laid down stringent provisions for licensing and running of blood banks so as to ensure safe blood. Human blood IP and its components are drugs. The Indian Pharmacopoeia has laid down parameters in this context. Whole human blood IP, which is meant for transfusion, must be free from HIV antibodies, hepatitis B and C viruses, malaria parasites, syphilis, and such infection causing microorganisms. The blood bank must provide facilities for testing the above criteria. Only voluntary donors should be used for blood donation. They should be between 18-60 years of age and should have a minimum hemoglobin content of 12.5 percent w/v. a person should not donate blood within three months of the last donation. The blood bank medical officer should certify the eligibility of the donor before phlebotomy. There are a number of factors that will disqualify a prospective donor, such as, a history of surgeries, malarial infection within the last three years, and the like. A person who had jaundice in the last one year should not donate blood. A person having high blood pressure and diabetes is also not allowed to donate.

The blood bank must have qualified medical officers whose supervision is a must during phlebotomy. He/she shall be assisted by a nurse and a blood bank technician. The donor must be given light refreshment and kept under observation for any post phlebotomy complications. The blood bank must have a minimum area of 100 sq m and additional space of 50 sq m for blood components along with the necessary equipment.

The blood should be collected in blood bags and stored at 2º C to 6º C in a special blood bank refrigerator, along with about 10 ml of extra blood which collected for testing. The blood should be tested and then certified to be free from HIV, hepatitis B & C viruses, malarial parasites, syphilis, etc, before it is released for transfusion. The blood bank should also cross match the unit with the sample blood of the patient before supply. Storage and shelf life of the collected blood should be as prescribed. Depending upon the anti-coagulant solution temperature should be between 2º C to 6º C. for different blood components different temperature range is required.

Blood Component therapy is a recent addition to treatment and has many advantages. One bottle of blood can be used for two or three patients if different factors are required for different patients. Bedsides, unnecessary loading or volume increase is not good for the patient. The major blood components that are prepared out of human blood IP are fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, red cell concentrate, and platelet concentrate etc. the blood component preparation has also helped in preventing wastage of the collected blood. The blood bank must also keep records of all testing done and register all donors. The user hospitals should follow the procedures prescribed in order to ensure that only safe blood is administered and no mismatched blood is transfused.