Vijayawada: In a significant leap in strengthening the blood safety standards at AIIMS Mangalagiri, the institute is set to inaugurate two new advanced diagnostic systems, which include the nucleic acid amplification testing (NATS) system and an advanced transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) screening system.
The introduction of the NATS system marks a critical upgrade in diagnostic capability. This technology enables early detection of viral genetic material (RNA/DNA), significantly reducing the window period, the time between infection and its detectability through conventional tests. It is particularly effective in identifying life-threatening infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C at much earlier stages.
“The NATS machine procured for Rs 1.73 crores is the first of its kind among all of the AIIMS institutions in South India. Also, it is the first of its kind ID NATS testing machine in Andhra Pradesh,” according to the department of transfusion medicine & hemotherapy authorities at AIIMS Mangalagiri.
Further, the TTI screening system is automated and provides results of donor testing within 30 minutes. “This is very important, especially when a patient’s blood group is rare, and a blood donor comes at request, and the patient requires it on an emergency basis. The NATS system acts as a second layer of safety in reducing the window period,” the hospital authorities further informed.
Elaborating on the current window period of detection of blood groups, the hospital authorities added: “Till now, the blood centre has been using manual ELISA machines for testing of donors for infections like HIV, hepatitis B and C using fourth-generation kits, and this takes 5 to 8 hours. The window period for current ID NATS is around 2-3 days, 10 days and 1 day for HIV, HBV, and HCV, as follows.”
It further said that the central medical institute will continue providing blood and blood components free of cost with these sophisticated tests on similar lines to AIIMS, New Delhi.
