Maharashtra State Board Transfusion Council (MSBTC) is spending Rs 3 crore for setting up 20 more blood components separation units in various districts of Maharashtra. All the new units are expected to be commissioned by March 2008.

The blood components separation unit requires a number of equipments for the blood storage. It needs freezer-40⁰C -70⁰C, blood bank refrigerator 2⁰C -6⁰C, refrigerated centrifuge with swing out head and oval cups, laminar flow, weight scale, dielectric sealer or aluminium clips and sealer, stripper, water bath 37⁰C or plasma defroster, platelet reciprocator, cryoprecipitate bath 4⁰C and a sterile connecting device.

This device allows the tubing from two separate bags to weld together without losing sterility either. The diameter and the material of the tubing to be connected should be similar. This device is useful in making paediatric units from a primary bag that has no satellite bags. The blood components are prepared by centrifuging at different relative centrifugal force in various stages at different time.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Sanjaykumar Jadhav, assistant director, State Blood Transfusion Council, Maharashtra, said, "We are continuously improving our blood collection data and the blood storage facilities in the state. At present, there are 2280 blood components preparation facilities in the country and out of that Maharashtra has 104 units. But the remote areas of the state still do not have adequate blood components units. To create more such facilities in the state, we are setting up 20 more units in the district and in the remote areas".

Separation of components from the whole blood is considered desirable as only the specific blood components that are required by the patients has to be extracted from the donors.

During the last ten years, number of blood bank units in Maharshtra has increased to 256 from 196. Out of which 73 Blood Banks are in the government sector. The small sized blood banks do not have the capability to collect required blood and store it in proper condition. The state government has already asked 52 blood banks to obtain storage licence and if they fail to apply for it, they would be forced to close down.

The storage capacity regulatory licence requires awfully less data and fixed asset. Recently, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has given around Rs 4 crore for setting up total 105 blood storage facility in taluka level in Maharashtra. By the end of 2008 all storage facilities will be commissioned. Out of 105, 26 blood storage facilities have already started operations after receiving licences from the Central government.