Biometrics in blood banks to give leg up to HIV treatment in TN

A government AIDS control body in Tamil Nadu will propose that all future blood donors in the state record their biometric details so that issues related to fake credentials are addressed and timely medical care could be provided if they test HIV positive during the screening process.

The proposal by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) comes close on the heels of a pregnant woman being transfused with HIV infected blood donated by a youth in Sivakasi government blood bank, which led to an outrage and raised questions over the present screening process.

The move is also aimed at ensuring timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy to donors who test positive for HIV when the blood is screened after donation at banks.

As many as 23 donors tested positive for HIV during 2015-18 but could not be informed of their status for a variety of reasons.

"We are going to propose to the government to have a programme to capture the biometrics of blood donors," Project Director, TANSACS, Dr K Senthil Raj told PTI.

Of the 23 donors, some were untraceable, a section of them did not cooperate and others had provided fake identity and false contact details, he said.

"In such cases, biometrics will help identify and bring them into the system by doing a test to confirm the presence of the virus through informed consent," he said.

After the test, if the results were positive again, counselling and later ART could be initiated. "Timely initiation of ART and strict adherence to the regimen is key to tackling HIV. Biometrics will not only help initiation of ART at the right time but will offer additional help to avoid transfusion of infected blood," he pointed out.

Some infected men donate blood under peer pressure just to avoid disclosure of their HIV+ status and hence provide false details during blood donation, he pointed out. "While some of them later inform us discreetly to not use their blood, others don't."
"It will also help avoid blood donation from such people and even if it was done ignorantly, the blood can be detected with ease."