Even as the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) is trying to improve the quality of blood banks through different initiatives, the drug control authorities have stumbled upon more cases of selling spurious and substandard blood products in the recent past.

Along with the task to curb the sale of spurious drugs, the Centre has asked the State authorities to step up raids and inspections in the blood banks. In Uttar Pradesh alone, 40 show cause notices were issued by the State authorities after unearthing a few cases in the last two months. Apprehensive of more such cases in other States too, the drug control departments have been told to mount intensive drives now, sources said.

The UP authorities have found that some blood banks in Kanpur and Lucknow were storing blood not of standard quality. The license of M/s Umrai Hospital and Blood Bank and Ashiana Blood Bank, Lucknow have been cancelled, while license of C L Memorial Hospital, Kanpur has been suspended.

The drug inspectors raided the premises of C L Memorial Hospital, Kanpur and samples of blood were collected and sent for testing to GSVM Medical College, Kanpur. All the samples of blood were found low in haemoglobin content. The police raided two places at Lucknow and seized a total of 80 bags of Whole Human Blood, Plasma and Platelets. Eight persons were arrested and a case has been registered. Samples of the seized blood and its components were sent to SGPGI, Lucknow. All the samples were found contaminated with bacteria and some of the samples were found reactive by ELISA for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Arrested persons on interrogation revealed that blood was supplied to needy persons at various nursing homes, sources said, adding that further investigations were going on.

Similarly, a team of drug inspectors raided the premises of Umrai Hospital and Blood Bank, Ashiana, Lucknow in September this year and collected samples sent for testing to SGPGI, Lucknow. All the samples of blood were found infected with bacteria. Working of the blood bank has been stopped under Sec. 22 (1)(d) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the licence of the said blood bank has been cancelled.