Transfusion Medicine

Professor & Head : Dr. Shashank Ojha
Overview
The Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) at ACTREC was granted its license to operate as a blood centre by on August 8, 2005. In 2007, the department obtained approval from the Atomic Energy Research Board (AERB) for the use of a Gamma Irradiator. We are committed to providing cutting-edge services and clinical expertise while producing high-quality research in the field of transfusion medicine.
Blood Donation
- More than 90 % of the total collection is from voluntary blood donation camps conducted annually with 100% of total collection being separated into blood components.
- Besides meeting the demands for the transfusion support for patients in BMT, unit, Hematolymphoid unit, solid tumour unit, pediatric oncology unit as well as surgical oncology unit in ACTREC,it also caters to the requirements of patients admitted at other hospitals and nursing homes in Navi Mumbai.


Apheresis Procedures
- Advanced procedures like Plateletpheresis, Leucapheresis for hematopoietic stem cell collection and Granulocytopheresis are being carried out by usage of automated blood cell separators.
- Annually 2000 plateletpheresis procedures, approximately 200 blood haematopoietic stem cell collection procedures , over 20 granulocytapheresis procedures and over 20 lymphocyte collections for CAR-T production are being performed using different apheresis devices.
- The department has the facility to store only licensed blood components.


Component Preparation
We have a dedicated area for component preparation and storage for Packed Red Blood Cell, Fresh Frozen Plasma, Cryoprecipitate and Random Donor Platelets.

Leukodepletion
Nearly 50% of the total blood collection from each camp are being leukodepleted using filter to meet the demands of the Haematolymphoid patients.


Stem Cell Manipulation Procedures
- The department in association with allied departments perform advanced stem cell manipulation procedures like CD45RA depletion, Alpha Beta and CD 19 depletion etc. Currently 2 enrichment and 4 depletion protocols has been standardized. Annually approximately 20 stem cell manipulation procedures are being performed.

Irradiation Facility
The department is also equipped with two Gamma Blood irradiators to provide irradiated blood components to the needy patients.

Transfusion Transmitted Infection Testing
All the donated blood and SDP units are being tested by Chemiluminescence assay before reserving the unit for transfusion.


Immunohaematology Laboratory
Our department is also technically equipped in performance of advanced immunohaematological procedures using different fully automated platforms available like resolving Drug Discrepancies, complete Pre Daratumumab patient profiling and resolving discrepancies caused by Daratumumab, resolving Immunohaematological discrepancies due to multiple allo and auto antibody association, AIHA workup and Serological Monitoring of Pre and Post Haematopoietic Stem cell transplant Recipient. Annually over 20 Daratumumab discrepancy work up is being performed besides routine testing like blood grouping, ABO antibody titre and patient anti body identification, Elution and Adsorption methods


 

Quality Control Laboratory
The Department is well equipped in performance of dedicated Quality control of all blood products are performed as per regulatory standards. The department stands uniform in performance of bacterial testing of all blood components (Leukodepleted Packed Red Blood Cells and Single Donor Platelets) supplied to all BMT and Haematolymphoid Patients using BAC-T Alert System.


PROCEDURES | 2023 | 2024 |
---|---|---|
Total Blood Units Collected | 5858 | 7877 |
Plateletpheresis Procedures | 1861 | 2154 |
Total Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvest | 150 | 139 |
Lymphocyte Harvest | 9 | 12 |
Granulocytopheresis | 8 | 18 |
Total Stem Cell Manipulation Procedures | 12 | 15 |
Total Bone Marrow Harvest | 1 | 0 |
Total Blood Grouping | 39375 | 48866 |
Total Crossmatching | 19556 | 25018 |
Antibody Screening | 39375 | 48866 |
Patient Antibody Screening | 3000 | 3462 |
Immunohaematology Work Up | 15 | 30 |
Total Leukodepletion | 3676 | 4306 |
Total Gamma Irradiated Procedures | 3775 | 6229 |
Specialized Procedure | 9145 | 12279 |
Total Components Prepared | 13758 | 17784 |
Total Blood Components Issued | 10524 | 15106 |
Total Blood Donation Camp | 83 | 103 |
- Each Year 2 Junior Residents are being posted in ACTREC as a part of their MD curriculum. In total currently we have 6 Junior Residents posted in ACTREC. All the residents rotate through various laboratories. The participation of the students in all facets of educational process is essential. Every candidate takes part in seminars, grand rounds, case demonstration, journal review meeting and clinical meetings. They have a mentor who guides them through their dissertation
- Every month one PGDMLT students are also being posted in different areas of DTM, ACTREC in a rotation manner for a period of 15 days as a part of their course curriculum
- The department successfully runs 1 year Non Bonded Senior Residency Programme
- The department has also got approval to start 1 year TMC fellowship programme titled "Cellular Therapy in Transfusion Medicine” for post MD doctors
Recent Completed Projects
- The role of Isohemagglutinin titers in monitoring immunohaematological reconstitution in ABO incompatible allogenic Hematopoietic stem cell Transplantation - Project No- 901024
- Pre-operative Blood Transfusion Management in Gastro Intestinal Surgical Patients - 901076
- Evaluation of Intra operative Transfusion Indicators in Surgical Oncology Patients in a Tertiary Care Oncology Centre - Project No: 900885
Ongoing Projects
- Determining the bacterial contamination of Single Donor Platelets (SDPs) and its correlation with Quality control - Project No- 901076
- A unified approach to comparative evaluation and optimisation of peripheral blood stem cell harvest using three different apheresis systems - Project No- 901103
Extramural/Intramural Projects
- “A Preclinical Translational Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of scfv-CD28-CD3ζ CAR T-Cells Manufactured from Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Relapsed/ Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in ex-vivo Setting” Project No. – 1782
- “Exploring the role of indigenously developed Chimeric Antigen Receptor(CAR) modified T- cells in the therapy of relapsed/ refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ineligible for Stem Cell Transplantation- 1st stage of a multi-stage project” Project No. 266.
- Daratumumab for Minimal Residual Disease Eradication in T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - A Phase 2 study
- Shashank Ojha, Vijaya Patle, P. Nagaraju, Navin Khattry. Blood components utilization in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Thirteen-year analysis from an apex oncology center of India. Asian Journal of Transfusion Science 2023 Jul-Dec;17(2):221-228.
- Deep Madkaiker,Sumathi S H,P Chavan, Shashank Ojha, JMendes, S Shastry. 'Ironing out the risk': Assessing the effect of plateletpheresis donation frequency on iron stores in South-Asian male donors . Vox Sanguinis 2023; 118:921–929.
- Anant Gokarn, P R.Tembhare,H Syed,I Sanyal,R Kumar,S Parab,T Khanka,S Punatar,S Kedia,S G.Ghogale,N Deshpande,YNikam,K Girase,S Mirgh,N Jindal,B Bagal,A Chichra,LNayak,A Bonda,S Rath,S Hiregoudar,M Poojary,S Saha,ShashankOjha,P G.Subramanian, N Khattry. Long-Term Cryopreservation of Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvest Using Low Concentration (4.35%) Dimethyl Sulfoxide with Methyl Cellulose and UncontrolledRateFreezingat-80°C: An Effective Option in Resource-Limited Settings. Transplantation and CellularTherapy 29(2023) 777.e1 -777.e8
- Shashank Ojha , Minal Poojary , Umakant Mokalikar,, S H Sumathi, Arun Kumar , Abhay M Gupta , Suryatapa Saha. The determinants of donor safety and product quality in optimization of apheresis granulocyte harvest: An experience from a tertiary care oncology centre in India. Transfusion and Apheresis Science 61(2022):103445.
- S. Ojha, A.M. Gupta, P Nagaraju, M Poojary, A Ravatale. Platelet donation awareness with donor motivation and recruitment drives: a unique concept to enhance voluntary plateletpheresis donations from a tertiary care oncology centre in India. Transfusion Clinique et Biologique. 2022 Feb;29(1):65-69.
- Abhay M Gupta, Shashank Ojha, P Nagaraju, Minal Poojary, Sumathi S H, Vimal Sathyan, Aamir Ansari. Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Disease and Lockdown on the Packed Red Blood Cells Inventory Management: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Oncology Centre in Western India. Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy 2021 Apr-Jun; 43(2):126-132.
- Shashank Ojha, Amol Tirlotkar, Abhay M Gupta, Sumathi S H, Priti Chavan, Minal Poojary. Comparative analysis of platelet concentrates prepared after two hours and overnight storage of buffy coat at room temperature. Transfusion and Apheresis Science 2021 Feb 60(1):103014
- B Bagal, A Gokarn, S Punatar, S Das, A Bonda, L Nayak, A Chichra, S Kannan, L J Mathew, P Tembhare, N Patkar, M Poojary, S Ojha, P G Subramanian, S Gujral, N Khattry. Bortezomib and Cyclophosphamide based chemo-mobilization in multiple myeloma. International Journal of Hematology 2020 Dec 112(6):835-840.
- Abhay M Gupta, Shashank Ojha, Minal Poojary, Sumathi S H, P Nagaraju, Rajendra Dhokle. Organization of the outdoor blood donation drives amid novel coronavirus pandemic and national lockdown: An experience from a tertiary care oncology institution in India. Transfusion and Apheresis Science 2020 Oct 59(5):102878.
- Shashank Ojha, Abhay M Gupta, P Nagaraju, Minal Poojary, Sumathi S H. Challenges in platelet inventory management at a tertiary care oncology center during the novel corona virus disease (COVID 19) pandemic lockdown in India. Transfusion and Apheresis Science 2020 Oct 59(5):102868
The department imparts training in PBSC harvest and other Bone marrow transplant-related activities to MD students from TMH and other centres as a part of their curriculum. Also doctors and technologists from other hospitals undergo training in plateletpheresis, PBSC harvest and BMT related activities. DTM conducts in-house academic sessions and staff members are encouraged to undergo training, participate in scientific meetings and conferences, and keep abreast with the latest developments in the field.
S. No. | Name | Designation |
---|---|---|
1. | Dr.Shashank Ojha | Professor and Head |
2. | Dr Suryatapa Saha | Associate Professor |
3. | Mr Amol Tirlotkar | Scientific Assistant |
4. | Mr Arun Kumar | Scientific Assistant |
5. | Mr Kalpesh Chawan | Scientific Assistant |
6. | Mr Vimal Sathyan | Scientific Assistant |
7. | Mr Rajendra Dhokle | Scientific Assistant |
8. | Mr Harish Kumar | Scientific Assistant |
9. | Mr Rajvardhan Singh | Scientific Assistant |
10. | Ms Pratiksha Gondkar | Scientific Assistant |
11. | Ms Sarika Parab | BMT Technician |
12. | Mr Abhitab Ravatale | Medical Social Worker |
13. | Mr Pravin Birhade | Medical Social Worker |
Transfusion Transmitted Infections Laboratory
Red Cell Serology Laboratory
Component Laboratory
Flowcytometry Laboratory
Blood Donor And Apheresis Area