History of Blood Transfusion Service in Sri Lanka
“From a single roomed blood bank towards a National Service”
National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) Sri Lanka is a special campaign under the ministry of health. It has a unique role providing timely supply of quality assured blood and blood components and related laboratory, clinical, academic and research services for the entire government sector hospitals and for the majority of the private sector hospital in the country.
NBTS has a distinguished history spanning more than fifty five years. General public in Sri Lanka become aware of blood transfusion in 1959 with rather unfortunate incident. That is the assassination of late Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, when an appeal was made to public to donate blood.
During that time the Blood Bank was only a single room located near the surgical unit of then General Hospital Colombo and was shifted in 1960 to the building situated near the gate in front of the Faculty of Medicine. It was an era where glass bottles were sterilized and reused by the service, a donor was paid ten Rupees per a donation and the blood was screened only for malaria and syphilis.
The journey from this single roomed blood to the centrally coordinated national blood transfusion service has remarkable milestones. Now the NBTS consists of 108 hospital based blood banks affiliated to 24 cluster centers based on their geographic location. National Blood Center at Elvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita is the operational head quarters where national policies are developed and implement for the efficient operation of blood bank net work in the country.
Today NBTS annually collect more than 450,000 blood units all form voluntary non remunerated blood donors. Blood Components are produced from all donations. Recommended tests to prevent Transfusion Transmitted Infections are done for all donor units using the latest test methods. Optimal storage facilities are available at all hospital based blood banks and efficient stock exchange within and outside the cluster blood bank system assures the availability of various blood components in desired blood groups.
In 1960
‘The’ blood bank was shifted to a building near the main entrance of NHSL.
In 1967
The “red donor booklet” was introduced as a certificate to free blood donors. Other donors were paid a minimum of 10 rupees for each donation.
In 1968
The blood bank was semi decentralized under the Ministry of Health. It was under the direction of a superintendent blood transfusion service. It had a staff of 124. During this era blood was collected into glass bottles and collected blood was screened only for Malaria and Syphilis. Hospital Based Blood Banks are started to function in late 1968.
In 1979
Paid donation is discontinued and voluntary donation is encouraged to ensure the safety of collected blood.
In 1980
By this time the number of hospital based blood banks were 20 and 12 emergency bleeding centres were also established. Mobile blood donation programs were initiated with 2 mobile blood collecting teams.
In 1981
The blood bank of NHSL (then referred to as Central Blood Bank) started to use disposable plastic bags instead of glass bottles for blood collection. Component laboratory established in the blood bank of NHSL (Central Blood Bank).
In 1982
NBTS was taken under the Laboratory Services as a specialized program. Volunteer Non-remunerated blood donations increased to 97%. “Anti A1” reagent manufactured for the first time in Sri Lanka Using “Kollu Seeds”.
In 1985
Disposable plastic bags were introduced to the other blood banks. Screening of blood for hepatitis B was initiated.
In 1987
Emerging of a new health threat by AIDS, leads to introduction of screening of all collected blood for HIV 1 and 2 antibodies.
In 1988
Component laboratory facility was extended to some of the larger blood banks. (Colombo North and Kandy)
In 1990
Component laboratory facility was further extended to blood banks at Karapitiya, Kurunegala, Cancer Institute – Maharagama, Peradeniya, Anuradhapura, Matara and Badulla. By this time there were 32 blood banks and 10 emergency bleeding centres. Central Blood Bank functioned as the training centre for medical and paramedical personels of NBTS.
In 1999
The head quarters of NBTS established at national blood centre and most of the vital laboratories and majority of the staff shifted from Central Blood Bank to National Blood Centre. NBTS became a fully decentralized unit. The first director of NBC and NBTS was Dr. (Mrs.) Bindusara.
In 2009
Cluster centre concept established and most of the authority given to the cluster centres for effective delivery of service to various parts of the country.
In 2014
100% voluntary donor base achieved. No replacement or family donors are accepted to NBTS any more.