History

The KLE Blood Bank was a pioneering step in the direction of advanced and precise medical care, when it was started in 1988. The Blood Bank was established at the old premises with a minimum of 1000 sq feet required then as per FDA. The Blood Bank officer was Dr. V. S. Patravali who established the Blood Bank as per the FDA rules.

In 1996 the KLE Hospital shifted to a newer premises with about 2000 sq feet of area. The Blood Bank got a new look and a new Medical Officer Dr. L. C. Gupta.

In 2000-01 the Blood Bank again got a face lift with new highly sophisticated five star looks and an additional of 50 sq mtrs of area. This was preceded by the appointment of a new Medical Officer Dr. Deepali Patil in 1998.
 

Our Aim

The KLE Blood Bank has a long term aim of becoming a totally voluntary Blood Centre and to have a fully fledged department of Transfusion Medicine with a Post Graduate course in Transfusion Medicine.

The following will be part of Department of Transfusion Medicine.

1. Apheresis
2. Bone Marrow Transplant Processing
3. HLA Typing
4. Irradiated Blood Components
5. Advanced Serology Lab
6. Tissue / Bone Banking
7. Stem Cell Banking
8. Peripheral Stem Cell Collection



Our Achievements

We have a few new feathers in our cap.

We have been licensed to have a fully fledged functional Component Preparation Laboratory since December 2001. This is the only Component Preparation Laboratory in the whole of North Karnataka, South Maharashtra a Goa. As of yet this is our most cherished achievement.

The new premises of the Blood Bank was inaugurated at the auspicious hands of Smt. Ramadevi Governor for the State of Karnataka. The KLE Blood Bank was affiliated with the Indian Red Cross Society Belgaum Chapter.

Our Blood Bank is ZBTC (Zonal Blood Testing Centre) since 1996 and has been performing TTD screening tests namely HIV, HbsAg abd lately HCV for various Blood Bank's in Belgaum City.

The KLE Blood Bank has a complete up-to-date Standard Operating Produces Manual (SOP) with all the GMP's being followed as per FDA and Drugs Control Act. We are performing all the tests by tube method.

For grouping both cell and serum grouping are performed or Cross Matching Saline Albumin and IAT are performed.

Atypical antibody screening is done for all samples of patient and donor by saline and albumin method.

Direct and Indirect Antiglobulin test is done.

Atypical antibody titre is done.

Transfusion Reaction workups are being done on a regular basis.

In 2005 our Blood Bank was recognized as RBTC Regional Blood Transfusion Centre. Thus we are conducting Voluntary Blood Donation Camps in co-ordination with District Hospital authorities & also providing blood & its components to needy & emergency patients of surrounding areas. We are performing confirmation ELISA testing for Blood Banks of Belgaum District.

Since Oct 2006 we are manufacturing leuco reduced components which are beneficial to neonatal, paediatric, geriatric, obstetric, multitransfused, immune compromised like on CT patients using the Baxter Opti Press Imachine.

In Feb 2007 our Blood Bank has started Apheresis to do platelet pheresis. We have the best cell separator in the world Cobe Spectra from Gambro India Pvt Ltd. We have done more than 75 procedures so far & it is in much demand. We are supplying SDP (Single Donor Platelets) to patients even outside our hospital. All other components are also being supplied to needy & emergency patients from North Goa, & South Maharashtra from Karnataka, from small villages to bigger cities. This is our most cherished achievement.

The blood bank is routinely conducting Voluntary Blood Donation Drives in Belgaum & surrounding towns & villages. The BBO Dr. Deepali Patil is involved along with DHO, & various NGO’s like Rotary, Lions etc. in spreading message of Voluntary Donation, Negative Blood Groups Importance, HIV awareness campaign etc.

Plasmapheresis: We have started Therapentic Plasmapheresis since Oct 2007 for the needy patients eg. Myasthenia gravis, Poisoning, other immunogical diseases etc.

Future Plans:

Cryoprecipitate Prepration: The Blood Bank will soon (by end of 2007) start manufacturing cryoprecipitate to help the Haemophilia patients. Our Institute is starting the Haemophilia Society. Belgaum Chapter soon.

HLA Typing Laboratory: We are setting up the HLA Typing Laboratory by next year end. This will help for Bone Marrow Transplants procedures & for Stem Cell Transplant procedures. Also they will be part of the kidney Transplant programme.

Bone Marrow Transplant Processing: This will be part of the Blood Bank functioning once the hospital gives in for the BMT programme. The collection, debirdement & storage of Bone Marrow will be done in the Blood Bank.

Peripheral Stem Cell Collection: This is an Apheresis procedure for which the Blood Bank is equipped even today. The procedures will be conducted when a fully fledged Medical Oncology Dept. is set up with availability of Radio & Chemotherapy unit. PBSC’s are part of BMT program.

Irradiated Blood Components: This will be compulsory once the BMT program starts. We will need a gama irradiator to this purpose.

APPEAL

We appeal to all to come forward & donate Blood & Plateletpheresis regularly.We appeal to people to celebrate Birthdays, Anniversaries, National Holidays by doing Blood donation.
Some people donate food, few donate clothes & Fewer can donate money but everyone of can donate this ‘Gift of Life-Blood.’

‘DONATE 1 UNIT BLOOD & SAVE 4 LIVES’