Despite a deluge of dengue and malaria cases over the last two months, platelet consumption in the city has largely been judicious so far.
The civic body believes the situation is much better as compared to last year’s when there was a 28% jump in platelet collection and use between June and November. An internal analysis of data collated from 34 private and municipal blood banks had shown that platelets flew off the shelves in an overwhelming pace last year when dengue cases had peaked. So much so that out of the dozen confirmed dengue deaths, at least four were attributed to excess transfusion of the blood component.
However, authorities and even blood banks think that better sense has prevailed among doctors this year as platelet requisitions are far less. “Our demand is down by at least 50% if we compare it with last year’s situation. We are supplying around 100 units of platelets every day. There has not been any crisis situation so far,” said Nitin Maniar, trustee of Samarpan Blood Bank in Ghatkopar. In the months of September and October, over 5000 cases of suspected dengue have been reported to the civic authorities. There have also been four deaths confirmed dengue deaths. BMC’s epidemiologist Dr Minnie Khetrapal said that majority of patients did not need any transfusion or even hospitalization. An official from the JJ Mahanagar Blood Bank equated the demand for platelets in October to non-epidemic months. “Currently, we have a stock of over 250 units. The demand is not completely absent but it is definitely manageable,” he said. A trustee from Triumph Blood Bank said that they have not had a situation where an emergency blood camp had to be organized.
The banks are willing to give the civic body some credit for bringing in awareness and regulations at the right time.
The BMC had issued a circular to all blood banks in June this year directing them to ask for the coagulation profile (test for abnormal blood clotting) of the patient whenever a doctor advises platelet transfusion.