World AIDS Day: NAT testing for blood disorder patients to be mandatory soon

To ensure another layer of protection from HIV and hepatitis infections for patients of genetic blood-related disorders in the state — who receive blood tranfusions on a regular basis — the state government is set to shortly ensure mandatory NAT testing under a pilot project, State Blood Cell Disorder Central Programme. There is also a proposal to introduce NAT testing across government blood banks in the state.

As per data received from the Punjab State AIDS Control Society, an average 3.5 lakh blood donors, including government employees, donate blood annually in Punjab each year. Last year, 0.39 per cent HIV positivity was recorded among the blood donors in the state. This year (2024), the total percentage of state blood donors testing positive for HIV were 0.20 per cent. Additionally, of the total blood donors in state this year, 1.66 per cent tested positive for hepatitis C and 0.50 per cent tested positive for hepatitis B.

In state 1,14,294 patients are registered in ART centres and 58,822 patients are currently under ART treatment.

As per the pilot project, under NAT testing, the window period for detecting HIV infections in the blood of donors will be reduced to several days. Currently, there is a window period of four to six weeks in the detection of HIV infections under ELISA testing. NAT testing will reduce the period significantly.

Notably, due to the large number of IDUs (injectible drug users) in the state and prevalence of HIV and hepatitis infections among them, the demand for more stringent blood testing has time and again been raised in the state as well as nationally. As per NACO, HIV positivity rate among IDUs in Punjab in 2011 was 21 per cent.

Officials said under the pilot project, the blood units for blood transfusion to all thalassemia, hemophilia and sickle cel disease patients in state will undergo NAT testing at the blood bank at Faridkot — only after which the transfusion will take place. A NAT testing machine will be installed at the government blood bank at Faridkot for the purpose.

Currently there are 1,500 thalassemia patients undergoing treatment in the state. Sources in the Health Department said ELISA testing was stringently carried out by blood banks under which patients are tested for six diseases — HIV (AIDS), hepatitis B and C, malaria and syphilis and detailed histories recorded. However, there are many people who hide histories of sexual intercourse, injectible drug use, etc., irresponsibly showing up for blood donation, posing risk to others. Due to the window period of 28 to 45 days in ELISA tests, an infection may go undetected for days.”

Official from a private blood donation organisation said, “There are areas where we stopped holding camps because seemingly healthy people were coming out HIV positive. NAT testing must be mandatory for an environment with a history of IDUs.”

Additional project director, PSACS, Dr Bobby Gulati said, “We currently run six mandatory tests on all blood donors and duplicate testing is also conducted, due to which chances of infection are minimal. But to ensure better protection for those with genetic and incurable blood diseases, this pilot project funded by the National Health Mission is being introduced on a Reagent-Rental Model. This will ensure even earlier detection of a possible virus in blood. Proposals have also been made to all government blood banks to get NAT testing machines installed.”