Transfusion Medicine & Cellular Therapy(Blood Centre)

Department of Transfusion Medicine ( Blood Centre) , MVR Cancer centre and Research Institute is being developed as Centre of Excellence, not just addressing the needs of the mother hospital but also reaching out to the community in the nearby geographical area, with safety , reliability and rationality being our pillars. Since we attained our blood bank licence on April 2018, we have travelled a long distance in a very short span of time.
We try to maximise voluntary blood donation by alligning with local blood donor organisations, educational institutions, religious organisations, political parties and NGOs. We are regularly conducting camps , both inhouse and field .We strive to provide the best donor experience to the donors thereby transforming donors into repeat regular voluntary donors.We have been working as a 100% blood component facility. We are regularly providing pRBCs, random donor platelets , fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitates on a regular basis. When needed we are providing processed and tailored components as required by the patient , namely leukofiltered , irradiated, reconstituted, washed and aliquoted blood components. We have a fully functional apheresis facility and we sustain our SDP collection on regular repeat voluntary blood donors . We perform enhanced chemiluminescence for Transfusion Transmissible Infection (HIV , Hep B, Hep C) detection to maximise donor safety. Basic and advanced immunohematology workup is being performed in our facility and we use Column Agglutination Technology for immunohematology workup.
Quality assurance is considered as a priority and we strictly adhere to the requirements. Standard operating procedures are strictly followed , participation in EQAS, regular Hospital Transfusion Committee Meetings, regular audits , staff training and proficiency testing are quiet a few of them.
We regularly interact with the society to understand the requirements of the nearby hospitals and patients in the surrounding areas ,to encourage donor recruiters and students and to imbibe the idea voluntary blood donation in them.We plan to develop ourselves as a training centre for dispersing knowledge in the field of transfusion medicine for clinicians ,blood bank medical officers, laboratory technicians, nurses and donor recruiters. We are proponents of quality through centralisation of blood transfusion services , thereby we are developing storage centres in hospitals and clinics in our vicinity. We do support other hospitals in developing their capability in transport , storage and transfusion of blood components.

The Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy at MVR Cancer Centre & Research Institute is dedicated to ensuring the availability of safe, reliable, and rational transfusion services. Our mission extends beyond meeting the needs of our hospital; we are committed to serving the broader community in the geographical area surrounding us. Since obtaining our blood centre license in April 2018, we have made remarkable strides in a relatively short period. We are developing our centre into a “Model Regional Blood Centre and Training centre”.
Our Commitment
Our department is built upon the pillars of safety, reliability, and rationality in transfusion services. We place a strong emphasis on maximizing voluntary blood donation by collaborating with local blood donor organizations, educational institutions, religious groups, political entities, and non-governmental organizations. Through in-house and field donation camps, we aim to enhance the donor experience, transforming donors into loyal, repeat voluntary donors. We believe in the ‘Centralisation of Blood Transfusion Services’ and strive towards perfecting a ‘hub and spoke model’ with we as the hub and ‘n’ number of Blood Storage Centres as the spokes.
Blood Component Facility
We proudly operate as a 100% blood component facility. Our services encompass the regular provision of packed red blood cells (PRBCs), random donor platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitates. We are equipped to provide processed and tailored blood components, such as leukofiltered, irradiated, reconstituted, washed, and aliquoted components, as required by the patients. Our fully functional apheresis facility enables us to maintain a steady supply of single donor platelets (SDP). We are regularly supplying Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including Foetal Medicine Centres by providing regular supply of tailored blood components for exchange and intrauterine transfusions.
Safety Measures
At our department, safety is paramount. We employ enhanced chemiluminescence for the detection of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (HIV, Hep B, Hep C) to ensure donor safety. Advanced immunohematology workup is a routine part of our services, utilizing Column Agglutination Technology and SPRCA (Solid Phase Red Cell Agglutination). We maximise the utilisation ‘Buffy Coat reduced’ blood components by utilising semiautomated blood component separation, minimising non infective adverse effects.
Quality Assurance
Quality is at the core of our operations. We strictly adhere to standard operating procedures, participate in External Quality Assurance Scheme (EQAS), conduct regular Transfusion Committee Meetings, and perform continuous audits. Staff training and proficiency testing are integral aspects of our commitment to quality.
Community Engagement
We maintain close ties with the local community to understand the needs of nearby hospitals and patients, and to promote voluntary blood donation. We aspire to become a training centre for disseminating knowledge in the field of transfusion medicine to clinicians, blood centre medical officers, laboratory technicians, nurses, and donor recruiters. We advocate for quality through the centralization of blood transfusion services and are developing storage centres in hospitals and clinics. Our support extends to other hospitals in developing their capabilities in blood component transportation, storage, and clinical transfusion support. We campaign against the social evil of illegal blood collection and issue.
Key Initiatives

• Regular outdoor voluntary blood donation camps
• A target of achieving 100% non-enumerated voluntary blood donation
• Training Programs: We conduct training programs for blood donors, voluntary blood donor organizations, and students. Completed and upcoming programs include:
  November 26, 2022 : “Upcoming TM Technologies in Kerala”
  March 10, 2023 : “Thanking VBDO”
  October 29, 2023 : “ISBTI State Annual Conference”

Achievements

• Multiple storage centres serving various regions of Malabar.
• Over 100 successful bone marrow transplants.
• Received the ISBTI Institutional Award 2022- National Award.
• Received the ISBTI Dr. Usha Gupta Award 2023 for Outstanding Donor Motivation Activities, presented to Mr. Ajay Raj, Counsellor, Blood Centre – National Award.
• Received the ISBTI Dr. J.G. Jolly Award 2023 for Outstanding Donor Motivation Activities, presented to Dr. Arun V.J, Specialist, Dept of Transfusion Medicine & Cellular Therapy- National Award.

For inquiries, collaborations, or donations, please reach out to our department. We are here to serve and make a difference in the field of Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy.

Department of Transfusion Medicine & Cellular Therapy/ Blood Centre
MVR Cancer Centre & Research Institute, Choolur, Calicut -673601
Phone: 0495 2289523
Email: transfusionmedicine@mvrccri.co
Dr. Nittin Henry, Senior Consultant
Dr. Arun V J, Specialist

Join us in our mission to save lives through safe transfusion practices and cellular therapies. Together, we can make a significant impact on patient care and the community’s well-being.

Our Transfusion Medicine & Cellular Therapy(Blood Centre) Doctors