INTRODUCTION

Blood transfusion science has made tremendous progress over the last century. It started with the discovery of ABO blood groups by Karl Landsteiner at the beginning of the century. The journey continued throughout the century towards safer blood transfusion. This 'march' was in the direction of achieving zero risk transfusion. Initial focus was targeted towards gathering knowledge about different aspects of red cell antigen structures. As a result, major blood group antigens were discovered around the first half of the last century. Red cell serology made an opening to the new horizon called immunohematology. Research scope gradually extended to other cellular components. Towards the end of the century, all cellular blood components were brought to the use of human beings in one way or the other. Most interesting developments were in the field of progenitor cells. Transfusion therapy is life-saving; however, it is need-based. If we look into the need, it differs across different specialties and between specialties; the need varies according to the individual's clinical situations. Emergence of new specialties is another hallmark of medical sciences in the previous century. This emergence was due to high-end medical care and segregation of specialties into super-specialties. A good example is stem cell therapy, which has become a routine mode of treatment in many countries. Because of high-end medical interventions, the demand for blood and blood components is increasing gradually all over the world. The demand for blood is gradually increasing although some branches of medicine have brought down the need.

We in our department follow an efficient system for collection and distribution and operate a blood collection system that fits our culture, philosophy, and our health care system. Looking on to the academic side, teaching is carried out by highly eminent faculty and is equipped with the best configuration of labs, lectures, presentations and journal discussions. Our infrastructure boosts of a donor screening room, donor bleeding area or phlebotomy area, donor refreshment area, component separation room, transfusion transmitted diseases screening room and RBC serology area along with the necessitated infrastructure for professors and post graduate students.

DONOR SCREENING TIMINGS

9AM to 4PM

History of Department

Our blood bank came into being in 1969 with a minimal infrastructure of a single room with an ordinary refrigerator. Blood collection was performed in bottles manufactured in the hospital itself. The anticoagulant used was ACD which was also manufactured at our pharmacy and sterilized in our operation theatre. Only screening methods like VDRL was employed during the period. No other transfusion transmitted disease screening methods were in practice during that time. Only the questionnaire regarding high risk behavior asked in the donor cards were the means of screening the donors. Later on vacuum bottles were purchased from outside and bypass of handmade bottles happened. In the year 1990 bottles were replaced by blood bags (SINGLE BAGS) and also the first blood bag refrigerator furnished in our department. Our infrastructure was modified and donor screening area, bleeding area and refreshment room came into being. Also there was advent of screening for TTD like HIV and HBsAg. Later on HCV screening also added the list.

Our Department obtained the license from the Drugs And Control Society in 1996. Till 2007 only whole blood was being administered to the patients. But the year 2007 gave our department a whole new dimension. License from the Drugs And Control Society for component separation was obtained and this embarked us on a whole new level. PRBC, FFP , Cryoprecipitate, and Platelet preparation started and issued according to the conditions of the patients and as demanded by the clinicians. This led to better health and more rates of survival in the patients. In 2012 the post graduate course was started on permit by the MCI.

Vision

The department aims to be an esteemed center for catering to the needs of all the patients of this hospital. It plans to actively engage with the wider medical community through horizontal and vertical integration. Towards this aim we have already made a contribution by starting the therapeutic apheresis. We envision ourselves to be a NABH accredited blood bank. Our goals include starting a day care blood transfusion unit for catering the needs of thalassemia patients. The department will strive to retain the academic excellence and provide appropriate physical resources that will facilitate research & learning.

Other Milestones

We conduct blood donation camps in our district at frequent intervals approximating twice or thrice in a week all round the year. We organize conference and workshops every year where we receive participants from all colleges across Kerala. “CASCADE” is a coagulation workshop we conduct every year which involves post graduate students and eminent faculties from various fraternities . This provides a huge platform and also facilitates different aspects of research and learning.

Achievements

The post graduate students in transfusion medicine have participated in various State level, National level & International level conferences. The following students have made their mark have won laurels and appraisals for the college:

Dr. A M RAFI 1st prize poster presentation in HAEMATOCON @AIMS, KOCHI
2nd prize poster presentation 3rd TRANSMEDCON National conference
1st prize ISBTI 2014
Best thesis prize from JMMC & RI
Dr. GANESH MOHAN 1st prize poster presentation Xth AATM International Conference
1st prize poster presentation 4th TRANSMEDCON National conference
Dr. NITHYA MOHANAN 3 prize poster presentation ISBTI 2015
Dr. NITHYA BAIJU 1st prize ISBTI 2015
3rd prize ISBTI 2014
Dr. SANOOJA PINKI 2nd prize ISBTI 2015
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