BLOOD RACKET ACCUSED MAY HAVE ‘GIFTED’ INFECTION TO PATIENTS

Arif, the mastermind of the illegal blood supply racket unearthed on June 6, might have gifted bacteria, hepatitis or other severe infections to people who were transfused blood supplied by him.

Samples of blood units recovered from his house were sent for lab tests. In their reports sent to FSDA, the labs reported presence of bacteria and hepatitis infection in the blood.

Doctors said such blood could be fatal for patients, if transfused. But how many of such units were sold under this illegal racket was yet to be known.

During the raids conducted by FSDA officials, a dozen bottles of normal saline were recovered from Arif’s house in Thakurganj from where the racket was being operated.

Experts had said a blood bank needs one or two bottles of normal saline in a month, but recovery of more bottles indicated that Arif made two units from one donation – something that is a big risk to human lives.

FSDA officials and cops were now trying to trace the patients who had received these blood units from Arif, so that they could be tested for blood related infection.

They were also working on the possible links between Arif and some hospitals in the city.

In the racket, blood donated by professional donors was not even tested, said investigators.

The team that raided Arif’s house sent the blood bags to the PGI and other blood components to Balrampur Hospital blood bank.