About Regional Blood Center
The Dow University of Health Sciences established its blood bank in 2003. Initially, it functioned as a hospital blood bank, offering services such as blood collection, basic serology (including blood typing and compatibility testing), and blood screening for transfusion-transmitted infections.
With the support of the Government of Sindh, this hospital blood bank was upgraded to the Regional Blood Centre DUHS in 2022 as part of phase II of the National Safe Blood Transfusion Program. This upgrade involved establishing a hub-and-spoke model to expand the blood bank’s network throughout the city. The RBC DUHS has partnered with several hospital blood banks and thalassemia centers through legal agreements. As a service partner, the DUHS Blood Centre provides blood inventory, patient testing, and other services as needed by these affiliated blood banks.
The Regional Blood Centre DUHS is the result of the dedication and commitment of the esteemed Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences and the core team of the Blood Center. Striving to provide the safest possible blood, the RBC DUHS screens all collected blood using FDA-approved instruments prioritizing patient safety.
Academics
As part of a prestigious medical university, the Regional Blood Center (DUHS) offers a variety of courses and CME, including one on the essential skills of blood bank serology. This four-month program is designed for professionals dealing with transfusion practices. This training provides a hands-on experience and comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices involved in blood banking. Upon completion, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in blood banks, hospitals, and other healthcare settings, contributing to the safe and efficient practices of blood transfusions. In the coming years, the RBC DUHS planned to introduce several certificate courses, diplomas, and postgraduate programs. For inquiries about the upcoming courses and workshops email us on, rbc@duhs.edu.pk
Scope of Services
- HBsAg
- Anti HCV
- Syphilis antibodies
- HIV (duo) 1, 2 and p24
Malarial parasite is detected with rapid Immunochromatographic technique (ICT) on blood donor samples.
RBC DUHS is Pakistan’s first Regional Blood Centre to provide NAT-tested blood to the masses.
Nucleic Acid Testing is performed on every single donor. Viral markers with their discriminatory tests, are performed on Cobas 5800 NAT testing machine by ROCHE. , FOR Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) – Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) – Hepatitis B virus (HBV), THUS MAKING THE BLOOD PRODUCTS SAFEST FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
- Red Blood Cells
- Fresh Frozen Plasma, thawed
- FP24
- Platelets
- Cryoprecipitate
- Cryosupernatant
- Pediatric aliquots
- Washed packed cells
- Neonatal exchange units
- Irradiated blood components
Following testing services are available for inpatients as well as for outpatients at RBC DUHS
- Blood Group
- Cross Match
- Red Cell Screening
- Red Cell Antibody Identification –
- ABO discrepancy workup
- Blood transfusion reaction workup
- DAT (Poly Specific) – DAT (Mono Specific)
- Adsorption elution techniques – Antibody titer
- Rh Titers
- Red Cell Phenotyping for Kidd (Jka)
- Red Cell Phenotyping for Kidd (Jkb)
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for S
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for s
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for C
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for c
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for e
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for E
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for Kell (K)
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for Fy a
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for Fy b
- Red Cell Antigen Phenotyping for Kpa
(Physician Prescription with medical history and fresh labs are mandatory requirements)
- Therapeutic phlebotomy
- Platelets Apheresis
- Plasma Apheresis
- Stem cell collection
Our Facilities
To provide full spectrum, high-end, complex serology testing, RBC DUHS has established a reference laboratory with skill sets, and reagents available to perform problem-solving of difficult cases where different centers in and outside Karachi (HBB’s and Thalassemia centers) that are unable to provide compatible units. They can request their desired testing through the Online Test Ordering System. All the required testing is performed and the results are pushed electronically in due time.
The entire blood banking process is driven by in-house developed workflow software, employing ISBT 128 barcode systems, and built around the AABB regulations, thereby ensuring 100% traceability. The software identifies, prevents, and notifies errors in the process through user notifications, incidence reporting, and admin reports. This Blood Bank Information System is fully integrated with the hospital’s Management Information System. The requests from the medical staff are generated in HMIS which is transmitted in BBMIS in real time and shown on the screens in the blood center. All the testing is performed at serology benches and results are immediately transmitted in HMIS and visualized on the floors.
For blood donors, both options are available as they can receive their reports via email in soft copy or by hand as hard copy from DUHS Blood Centre.
Capacity building is an ongoing process at Indus Blood Center. All staff undergo intensive structured training in the training center according to the laid down SOPs upon hiring and are authorized to work on live donor and patient material after passing the theory examinations (pass percentage 80%) and practical competencies.
The Blood Center has a technical laboratory with full audio and visual facilities to train 08 to 10 blood bankers at a time. The lab has all the basic equipment to train the blood bankers in real-time, with a blood bank management information system deployed on training servers.
Contact Us
Regional Blood Center