Basic procedures of Immunohematology and Blood component preparation, India, June 2023

Department of Transfusion Medicine & Blood Bank, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, (AIIMS Raipur) in association with Chhattisgarh State AIDS Control Society (CGSACS), National Health Mission, Chhattisgarh (NHM) and International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) organised three, (two-day) State level workshops on Basic procedures of Immunohematology and Blood component preparation in June 2023 at AIIMS Raipur, Chhattisgarh. These workshops included medical officers and technicians of various Govt. Blood Centres of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The workshop had an aim of enhancing knowledge and skills in immunohematology testing and blood component preparation. The report below is a synopsis of these three workshops. 

First of the three, workshops was held on 08th - 09th June 2023. This workshop targeted the Blood Center officials of the District Hospitals of Raipur, Rajnandgao, Balod, Bemetara, Baloda Bazar, Gariaband and Kwardha. 

The inauguration ceremomy started with Vandana of Goddess Saraswathi, followed by ‘welcome address’ by ‘Organising Chairperson and Faculty AIIMS Raipur, Dr Sankalp Sharma. The event was presided by Chief guest, Dr Khemraj Sonwani, Deputy Director, Blood Cell cum Additional Project Director, CGSACS, Hon Director, Prof (Dr) Nitin. M. Nagarkar, Hon Dean (Academics), AIIMS Raipur, Prof (Dr) Alok. C. Agrawal. Inauguration ended with closing remarks by Dr Sankalp Sharma.

There were a total of 19 delegates, (first workshop) including medical officers and technicians. Basic Immunohematology procedures including an introduction to Blood Bank reagents and their respective functions, reagent Quality control protocol, adult, paediatric Blood-grouping, direct, indirect antihuman globulin testing. Participants were given an opportunity to perform procedures themselves. An overview of Blood group discrepancies, antibody screening using commercial red-cell panel, participant questions and post-test. 

Workshop (Day-2) on component preparation, started with pre-test followed by brief introduction to Blood bags, calculation of blood volume of Blood component with exercises to participants. Blood components preparation, Specialised component preparation such as leuko-depleted, paediatric RBC units were demonstrated to participants. Quality control of blood components as per quality control ‘regulations, Government of India’. Blood centre issue protocol, documentation, and records. The workshop ended with feedback, post-test, and group photograph. 

The Second (2-day) State Level Workshop was conducted on 15th-16th June 2023, with Delegates from Medical College, Ambikapur, Dhamtari, Korba, Raigarh, Janjgir- Champa, Mungeli, Korea, Balrampur, Surajpur and Jashpur blood centres of Chhattisgarh. This Workshop had total 19 delegates. 

Third and final (2-day) State level Workshop was conducted on 21st and 22nd June 2023 instead of the originally planned dates of 27th and 28th June 2023. Participants from Bilaspur, Kanker, Dantewada, Sukma, Narayanpur, Bijapur and Kondagao participated in this event. A total of 21 delegates attended the workshop. Prof (Dr) Anudita Bhargava, Head of Department, Department of Microbiology, provided a brief overview of infection prevention and control measures following needle stick injury to blood center officials. 
Overall, the delegates were satisfied with educational content of the workshop.

We at the Department of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Bank, AIIMS Raipur are thankful to the CGSACS, NHM and ISBT for their support towards this educational event. 

 

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