Uttar Pradesh shuts 14 blood banks over critical safety lapses

Blood banks across Uttar Pradesh face mounting scrutiny after a comprehensive regulatory review revealed widespread safety breaches that could compromise patient health. The Food and Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) conducted inspections at 81 blood transfusion centres across 31 districts and documented critical lapses in operational standards and quality control measures.

The investigation uncovered multiple instances of malpractice, including the use of rapid diagnostic kits instead of the gold-standard ELISA testing method for screening blood samples, raising concerns about the accuracy of pathogen detection. Inspectors also discovered blood components stored in defective deep freezers, potentially rendering stored blood products unsuitable for transfusion. In several cases, medical staff were found to be absent from facilities during operational hours.

Additionally, inspectors documented the use of expired medical supplies and injectable medications at various centres, indicating inadequate inventory management and quality assurance protocols. These findings contradict official claims of ensuring safe blood supplies to patients across the state.

In response to the violations, the FSDA has suspended operations at 14 blood banks, effectively preventing them from accepting donations or distributing blood products. State health authorities have signalled that further corrective action may follow as investigations continue. The regulatory action underscores persistent challenges in maintaining quality standards across India's blood transfusion network.