Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine Started in June 1998 Recruitment Rules for Faculty

 
The Transfusion Medicine services are organised into following functional areas :

1. Donor reception, registration, screening and bleeding complex.

2. Blood grouping, Cross matching and issue section. This functions on round the clock basis.

3. Immunohaematology section for work up of fetomaternal blood group incompatibility and imuune hemolytic anemias.

4. Blood components complex, equipped for preparation of packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelet  concentrate and cryoprecipitate.

5. Mobile Van and staff for holding voluntary blood donation camps outside GMCH premises.

6. Plateletpheresis procedures for patients of thrombocytopenia

TRANSFUSION MEDICINE SERVICES

The blood  bank is licensed in 1996 and initially only whole blood was available. Blood donors are screened medically and bled within the donor complex which remains open for donor convenience throughout the year including the holidays. The donors units are subjected to blood grouping and screening for transfusion transmissible diseases. Screening is done for  HIV , Hepatitis B and C virus by ELISA technique in emergency situations screening is done using rapid techniques. The blood units are subsequently cross matched and issue to patients as and when required. Screening for atypical antibodies is being done. Facilities for autologous and directed donations are also provided. Over 50% of the blood collected is from voluntary blood donors, about 20% of whom are repeat donors. The department organises voluntary blood donation camps (about 5 -6 / month) with various religious, social and educational institutions. A fully equipped Mobile Van is used for this purpose and camps are held in and around Chandigarh. 

In order to optimise blood utilization the Blood Component Complex was established in 1999 and license for component preparation was acquired in 2000. Presently packed red cells, platelet concentrates, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate components are regularly prepared and available for patient care. The department also issues blood and blood components to private nursing homes. Direct and Indirect Coomb's tests are being performed for blood group incompatibility and patients with immune hemolytic anemias. Samples for Rh genotyping are processed in special cases.

The department has acquired a cell separator machine enabling the removal of desired blood components particularly platelets from single blood donors. The plateletpheresis procedure benefits hemato-oncology patients and cancer patients on chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Apheresis services are provided round the clock by the department.

      

The faculty of the department teaches various immunohaematological tests and conducts , training related to Blood Transfusion services. The post graduate students of Pathology are posted for their training in Transfusion Medicine in this department. As a part of the teaching programme journal reviews, seminars and discussions are held as per schedule.

Students who have enrolled for apprenticeship after 10+2 (Vocational stream of CBSE) are given theory lectures and practical training. Technical staff from Punjab Health Systems Corporation are given special training in Blood Bank. Over 100 personnel from Punjab Health Systems Corporation have received this training.

The departmental faculty are also involved in various research projects and have National and International publications.