UP Seeks Stricter Blood Transfer Rules

The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA) has put forth a significant proposal to the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC). This proposal calls for the mandatory re-testing of all blood units that are transferred in bulk between blood banks. The goal is to introduce stricter oversight and minimize the potential for unsafe blood transfusions.

This move comes after extensive inspections conducted in March 2026 across 208 blood centres in Uttar Pradesh. These inspections brought to light serious irregularities concerning infection testing, proper storage, staff training, hygiene, and documentation. Consequently, regulatory action was taken, leading to the cancellation of licenses for 55 centres.

The UPFSDA's proposal includes a multi-faceted approach. It suggests that recipient centres should test at least 1% of units, or a minimum of one unit per consignment, to verify quality. Additionally, proposed measures include clear marking of transferred units, provision of pilot tube segments, and requiring recipient centres to notify local drug inspectors before accepting bulk transfers. A detailed SOP and checklist for consignments are also recommended to ensure all aspects of blood quality and transport are rigorously checked.