India's First-Ever Guidelines for Animal Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks

Why in News?

Recently, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) released the “Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks for Animals in India”.

• Launched by – The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
• Aim – To provide a national framework for safe, ethical, and scientifically sound transfusion practices.
• It is an advisory and non-statutory framework.
• It is a dynamic document that will evolve with new science, field experience, and stakeholder feedback.
• Objectives – To standardise donor selection, blood collection, transfusion procedures, and ensure donor animal welfare & safeguards.
• Key highlights of guidelines
  • Establishment of state-regulated veterinary blood banks with biosafety-compliant infrastructure.
  • Mandatory blood typing and cross-matching to prevent incompatibility reactions.
  • Donor eligibility criteria, including health, vaccination, age, weight, and disease screening norms.
  • Emphasis on voluntary, non-remunerated donations and informed consent with a Donor Rights Charter.
  • Integration of One Health principles to manage zoonotic risks.
  • Standardized Standard operating Procedures (SOPs), forms, and checklists for donor registration, transfusion monitoring , and adverse reaction reporting.
  • A roadmap for establishing a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) with digital registries, real-time inventories, and an emergency helpline.
  • Incorporation of training modules into Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry curriculum, postgraduate programs, and Continuing Veterinary Education.
• Benefits – It ensures safer emergency care for animals, and provides veterinarians with standard protocols.
• It helps farmers reduce livestock losses and promote animal welfare & food security for society.
• It encourages mobile blood collection units, cryopreservation for rare blood types, mobile applications for donor-recipient matching, and advanced transfusion research.

Reference

PIB| Animal Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks.