Home / Health / Supreme Court Weighs Mandatory Blood Disease Tests
Supreme Court Weighs Mandatory Blood Disease Tests
2 Mar
Summary
- Supreme Court examines mandatory NAT testing for blood donations.
- NAT detects HIV, Hepatitis B/C; cost-effectiveness questioned.
- Petitioner cites Article 21 right to safe blood transfusion.
The Supreme Court is considering a crucial question: should blood banks be mandated to perform Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) for disease identification? This molecular technique offers high sensitivity in detecting viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. A bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, inquired about the financial feasibility of NAT, especially for government blood banks and hospitals in states with limited budgets.
The petitioner, represented by advocate A. Velan, asserted that NAT is comparatively low-cost. However, the court raised concerns about imposing additional financial burdens on states already struggling with operational costs. To address these concerns, the court requested the petitioner to gather more data on the current use of NAT in state hospitals across various states, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for March 13.
The case underscores the importance of blood safety, particularly for vulnerable populations like Thalassemia patients who require frequent transfusions. The petitioner emphasized that the right to safe blood transfusion is integral to the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Recent incidents, including children contracting HIV in Madhya Pradesh in December 2025 due to contaminated transfusions, and similar allegations in Chaibasa, highlight the critical need for stringent blood screening practices.
