Blood transfusion: FG warns against use of rapid test kits for screening

The federal government has warned against the use of Rapid test kits to screen blood meant for blood transfusion in Nigeria.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate stated this Sunday in Abuja during the National Blood Donor Day commemoration organised by the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC).

He said this meant that all hospitals and Blood Establishments (BEs) involved in blood services either: public, private or faith-based, at the local, state, or federal Level: are required to register with the NBSC for effective regulation of their activities.

He urged all stakeholders to ensure that they fully comply with the government’s decision.

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He said the NBSC has commenced the registration of all hospital blood banks and Blood Establishments (BEs) nationwide.

The minister said that in line with the resolutions made during the 64th National Council on Health, the use of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique remains the minimum standard for screening of blood meant for transfusion purposes in Nigeria

He said, “An adequate and reliable supply of safe blood can only be assured by a stable pool of voluntary, unpaid donors, who are also the safest group of donors since the prevalence of blood-borne infections is generally lowest among them.”