Blood Bank: Charges for Blood and its components

Blood centers will face stringent action if they engage in overcharging for blood and its components

Charges should be displayed prominent at all blood banks

HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 29, 2024: In the wake of instances of overcharging by blood banks and its components, the Telangana Drugs Control Administration has instructed all the Blood banks to mandatorily adhere to the charges fixed by the Government of India for blood and blood components, such as plasma, platelets, etc.

DCA Director-General VB Kamalasan Reddy stated in a press note here on Thursday that during the surprise raids conducted by the DCA officials at various blood banks in Hyderabad it was found that they were charging exorbitantly and cheating the people for blood and its components, including Fresh Frozen Plasma, Platelet Concentrate, Single Donor Platelets, Packed Red Cells etc..

As per the “Guidelines for Recovery of Processing Charges for Blood and Blood components” issued by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC), the processing charges are as follows:

PROCESSING CHARGES FOR GOVERNMENT BLOOD CENTRES

Sl. No.	Blood/Components	Processing Charges (in Rupees)
1.	Whole Blood	1100
2.	Packed Red Cells	1100
3.	Fresh Frozen Plasma	300
4.	Platelet Concentrate	300
5.	Cryoprecipitate	200

PROCESSING CHARGES FOR NON-GOVERNMENT BLOOD CENTRES

Sl. No.	Blood/Components	Processing Charges (in Rupees)
1.	Whole Blood	1550
2.	Packed Red Cells	1550
3.	Fresh Frozen Plasma	400
4.	Platelet Concentrate	400
5.	Cryoprecipitate	250

PROCESSING CHARGES OF OTHER TESTS, COMPONENTS & PROCESSES (GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT)

Following charges are for individual tests, components and various processes which are specialized in nature but not part of routine blood processing. The charges of specialized tests, processes and components per unit of blood can be divided amongst other components for same unit.

Sl. No.	Other blood tests, components & processes	Processing Charges (in Rupees)
1.	NAT	1200
2.	Chemiluminescence	500 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges)
3.	ELISA Anti HIV 1/2 (4^th Gen)	50 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges)
4.	ELISA HBsAg (4^th Gen)	50 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges)
5.	ELISA Anti HCV (4^th Gen)	150 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges)
6.	Anti HBc	250
7.	Antibody Screening (Donor)	300
8.	Leukofiltration-RBC	1000
9.	Leukofiltration Platelet	1500
10.	Grouping Cross-matching /Automation	280 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges)
11.	Grouping Cross-matching / Semi-Automation	120 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges)
12.	Phenotyping for Extended Serology	500
13.	Irradiation	1000
14.	Bacterial Detection	400
15.	Platelets (apheresis)	11000

SURPLUS PLASMA EXCHANGE VALUE IN GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT BLOOD CENTRES

Sl. No.	Component	Exchange value for Surplus (excess) plasma
	Surplus Plasma (exchange value)	1600/Litre

THE ADDITIONAL PROCESSING CHARGES FOR BLOOD COMPONENTS USING QUADRUPLE BAGS BY BUFFY COAT METHOD ARE AS UNDER

Sl. No.	Component	Additional Processing Charge for Blood components using Quadruple bags by buffy coat method (in Rupees)
1.	Red Cell	150
2.	Platelet	150
3.	Plasma	100

It is mandatory for all blood centres (Government supported and non-Government supported) to provide blood/blood component free of cost to the following patients, who require repeated blood transfusion as a life saving measure:-

Thalassemia
Haemophilia
Sickle Cell Anaemia
Any other blood dyscrasia requiring repeated blood transfusion

The public may report any complaints regarding overcharging by blood banks (blood centres) through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana Toll-Free Number 1800-599-6969, which is operational from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on all working days.