Review Article
Year: 2017 | Month: December | Volume: 7 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 299-305
Role of Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing in Blood Banks: Additional Measure for Blood Safety
Dr. Rajani Ranganath1, Dr. Sandip Kudesia2, Dr. Geener John3
1Lecturer, 2,3Associate Professor,
Department of Pathology, Oman Medical College,
P.O Box 391, Postal Code-321, Al Tareef, Sohar, Sultanate of Oman
Corresponding Author: Dr. Rajani Ranganath
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Blood safety is a challenging task as millions of people worldwide receive blood transfusion or blood-derived products annually. The Risk of transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) with blood borne diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV)and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) still exists even though testing and policy decisions have combined to make blood supplies in many countries among the safest in the world. Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) shortens this window period, thereby offering blood centers a much higher sensitivity for detecting viral infections.
Objective: To understand the role of nucleic acid testing in blood banks as an additional measure for blood safety
Result and conclusion: There is sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of using NAT as a screening test for detection of HIV, HBV and HCV in donated blood. Nucleic acid testing can help in preventing transfusion of infected unit and thus providing safe blood to the patient.
Key words: Transfusion transmitted infection, Nucleic Acid Testing, window period