The Mumbai-based Holy Family Hospital in suburban Bandra has set up a component blood bank. The hospital has obtained a license for the same on September 1, 2003.

"We have acquired a centrifuge in order to separate plasma and platelets. We have also acquired a freezer that can be used to store these at minus 70-degree temperature," said Dr Georgia, director (diagnostic services) speaking to Pharmabiz Hospital Review.

Between September and December, the hospital has administered more than 600 units of platelets to various patients. "Because of this facility, we were in a position to save a lot of dengue patients, when there was a crisis recently", she added.

The facility has also bolstered the hospital's cardiac wing, and is already catering to requirements of open-heart surgery. Rather than a conventional blood transfusion, it is now possible to selectively administer specific blood components like platelets, plasma as well as packed cells.

The hospital is also in the process of working towards getting ISO: 9001: 2000 certification for its diagnostic division, sources confirmed.

According to Dr Joyce Regi, the blood bank officer, "We are also in the process of attempting to increase the number of our voluntary donors. Towards this end, we are already holding blood donation camps to motivate voluntary donors to become our regular donors. Such a process ensures safety so that voluntary donors are tested regularly. The idea is to ensure that there is minimal scope for even 'window period' infections to occur, especially in the case of HIV."