Blood Bank under probe

A comprehensive probe has been ordered into the operations of the Blood Bank in Kingston following claims last week of irregularities that threaten the integrity of its testing and processing regimen.

In a media statement late Sunday evening, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said the reports of “irregularities at the Blood Bank have come to the attention of the executive management in the ministry, and we are deeply concerned and have asked that an investigation be conducted immediately.

“The report of a process error is of great concern. However, the ministry reassures the public that no contaminated blood product was issued arising out of this,” the minister said.

Tufton added that the National Blood Transfusion Service continues to process blood products using international standards and that the facility’s processing of blood products provided to the population was detailed and included screening of all blood for infectious markers.

Sources at the Blood Bank have raised concerns that there was no regular cleaning of the agency’s equipment and that false readings were possible because of dysfuntions. There are also claims of errors in recording patients’ blood types, among other alleged concerns.

But the minister said on Sunday evening that the National Blood Transfusion Service continues to process blood products using international standards and best practices and that the process to ensure that safe blood products are provided to the population is very detailed and includes screening of all blood for infectious markers.

The process, Tufton said, is carried out every time blood is donated, even if by a repeat donor.

The ministry said that it expects to get a report on the alleged irregularities in weeks.