In August 2025, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) released India’s first comprehensive national “Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Animal blood transfusion and blood banks”.
Exam Hints:
- What? Guideline for animal blood transfusion released
- Released by: DAHD, MoFAH&D
- Why? To improve standards for donor screening, blood matching, typing etc
- Key Provisions: State-regulated blood banks, donor eligibility, voluntary donations, One Health integration, SOPs, NVBBN roadmap, training modules
- Innovations: Mobile blood collection units, preservation techniques, mobile app for donor-recipient matching.
About National Guidelines for Veterinary Blood Transfusion:
Current Scenario: In India, most animal blood transfusions have so far been performed in emergency situations without SOPs for donor screening, blood typing, or storage.
Aim: The DAHD released comprehensive guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion services, aimed at bridging a critical gap in emergency animal healthcare.
Collaborative Development: The guidelines were formulated after extensive consultations with the Veterinary Council of India(VCI), veterinary universities, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes, and State Governments (SG).
- The framework is designed to align India’s veterinary transfusion practices with international best standards.
Key Provisions: The new guidelines require blood typing and cross-matching to prevent adverse reactions, set donor eligibility criteria including health and vaccination standards, and promote voluntary donations with informed consent through a Donor Rights Charter.
Key Highlights of the Guidelines & SOPs:
State-Regulated Blood Banks: Establishment of veterinary blood banks with biosafety-compliant infrastructure at the state level.
Blood Compatibility: Mandatory blood typing and cross-matching to prevent incompatibility reactions.
Donor Eligibility: Criteria covering health, vaccination, age, weight, and disease screening norms.
Voluntary Donations: Emphasis on non-remunerated donations with informed consent via a Donor Rights Charter.
Integration: Incorporation of One Health principles to manage zoonotic risks.
Procedures: SOPs, forms, and checklists for donor registration, transfusion monitoring, and adverse reaction reporting.
Future plans:
Roadmap: It lays out a roadmap for a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (NVBBN) featuring digital registries, real-time inventory tracking and an emergency helpline.
- Training modules for veterinary students, postgraduate programmes, and continuing education for practitioners are also included.
Innovations: Future innovations encouraged under the guidelines include mobile blood collection units, preservation techniques for rare blood types, and mobile applications for donor-recipient matching.
Livestock of India:
Livestock Sector: India’s livestock sector comprises over 537 million animals, while companion animals number more than 125 mn.
- The combined sector contributes 5.5% to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 30% to agricultural GDP, supporting food security and rural livelihoods.
About Veterinary Council of India(VCI):
President – Dr D C Verma
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1984
