NAT machine installed at Shija, first in Eastern India
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 06 2013:
For the first time in eastern India, the Automated Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology which can detect the presence of DNA/RNA of HIV, Hepatitis B and C within 6-8 days has been installed at Shija Hospital and Research Institute here today.
Addressing media persons at Shija Hospital, Langol in this connection today, Dr Kh Palin, Managing Director of Shija Hospital and Research Institute, informed that screening of donor blood with nucleic Acid technology (NAT) has brought a new revolution in the testing of infectious disease in the modern blood banking.
The current conventional test procedures such as ELISA can identify the viruses of HIV, Hepatitis B and C only after a period of 30-90 days post infection.
This period in medical term is refered to as the 'window period' where laboratory tests cannot determine the presence of antibodies against these infections.
Therefore, unknowingly, there are chances of transfusing the infected blood to the patients.
However, with the advance NAT test DNA/RNA of the viruses can be detected within 6-8 days, thus helping bridge this window period and greatly reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, he explained, adding that the test can also reduce chances of human errors and also facilitate testing of a huge number of samples at one go.
He further informed that it is the only machine currently available that can also screen for HIV-2 along with HIV 1 and HCV.