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Blood Products Not Stored or Handled Properly

Blood Products Not Stored or Handled Properly
Blood Products Not Stored or Handled Properly

The non-observance of standard procedures in blood storage and handling by some hospitals in the country is a cause for serious concern.

Head of Tehran Blood Transfusion Office Fatemeh Nadali expressing her concerns said once the blood products are handed over by the Iran Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) to a hospital “it is the latter’s duty to ensure proper handling and storage of the blood.” Nadali believes mismanagement of blood products by hospitals stems from the fact that IBTO does not charge any fee for providing the blood components, considered as expensive products for hospitals worldwide, ILNA reported.

In spite of the high costs incurred for collecting blood products by the IBTO and borne fully by the government, Nadali says “IBTO never sells the blood products to the hospitals, even though it has been given the authority by the organization’s statutory provisions.”

Regarding the standard procedure for handling blood products she said “blood platelets must be stored under constant agitation at standard room temperature. Platelets have a very short shelf life and lose potency quickly if not effectively preserved.”

Storage of red blood cells involves refrigeration to prevent their contamination. Nadali says since all hospitals are equipped with blood refrigerators, storing the packed blood products in improper conditions, is unacceptable and a “sign of negligence on the part of hospitals.”

The official further said the blood collected by IBTO centers is processed and separated into blood components within 8 hours since transfusion inefficiency can affect the quality of the collected blood.

Blood storage and handling is a widely debated issue among scientists worldwide; Nadali urged for greater focus on the matter by hospitals across the country.

Financialtribune.com