Quality and Monitoring

Laboratory Department

The Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS) is the National Blood Service responsible for all blood transfusion and safety activities for the entire country. The headquarters at Nakasero Blood Bank acts as a reference centre for all the regional blood banks and other public and private hospitals.

The Regional Blood Banks have the capacity to recruit volunteer blood donors, collect blood and test it for transfusion - transmitted infections (TTIs) - HIV, Hepatitis B, C, Syphilis, blood grouping, process blood into pediatric packs, prepare platelets, fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and Cryoprecipitate.

Objective

To test all blood for transfusion - transmissible infections (TTIs) and operate an effective, nationwide Quality Assurance program that ensures safety of the entire blood transfusion process from vein to vein.

Blood testing

Screening of blood is mandatory for providing safe blood. Blood is routinely tested for HIV, hepatitis B, C and syphilis. Blood grouping for ABO and Rhesus groups and other abnormal antibodies are done. Testing is carried out using semi automated machines, Nakasero Blood Bank at the headquarters uses Architect Technology ,the Regional Blood Banks use Axysm Technology and the sub regional Blood Banks use manual micro plate ELISA techniques. The main laboratory based at the UBTS Headquarters is the referral laboratory. It acts as a reference laboratory for HIV testing, carries out supervision of the Regional Blood Bank laboratories and is responsible for quality assurance. Only if all results are negative, then the products can be released. In case of any reactive result the test will be repeated and if the result is reactive the whole blood and blood components must be discarded and destroyed. The laboratory participates in proficiency testing (IQAS) for Elisa and blood grouping testing organized by CDC Atlanta. The laboratory does product quality control on platelet concentrates on 1% of the products on a monthly basis. UBTS has adequately trained staff, equipment and reagents, assay kits and testing kits to meet the minimum requirements of a screening program me.

Assay and Testing kits for testing donated blood

Architect

Architect HIV Ag /Ab combo assay

Chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay used for the simultaneous qualitative detection of HIV p24 antigen and antibodies to HIV virus type 1 and/or type 2 in human serum or plasma.
A test developed by Abbott Laboratories to detect the virus more accurately in the weeks immediately following transmission, with this test the screening laboratory is able to detect at least 90% of the so- called acute infections, people in those early stages, in those first few weeks before they develop antibodies.
Chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay used for the qualitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in human serum or plasma.

Architect HBsAg Qualitative assay

Chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay used for the qualitative detection of antibody to Hepatitis C virus in human serum or plasma.

ELISA Micro plate

Murex HIV Ag /Ab combination

Enzyme immunoassay for the improved detection of sero conversion to HIV

Murex HBsAg Version 3

Enzyme immunoassay used for the detection of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

Murex ant –HCV Version 4.0

Enzyme immunoassay used for the detection of Hepatitis C Antibody.

Axysm

Axysm HIV Ag /Ab combo assay

Chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay used for the simultaneous qualitative detection of HIV p24 antigen and antibodies to HIV virus type 1 and/or type 2 in human serum or plasma.

Axysm HBsAg Qualitative assay

Chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay used for the qualitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen

Anti- HCV assay

Chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay used for the qualitative detection of hepatitis C antibody in human serum or plasma.