Sambalpur, June 16: A four-member team will probe into the alleged case of transfusion of infected blood at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar) in Burla.

Relatives of a patient who was undergoing treatment at Vimsar alleged that he was administered HIV-infected blood. They alleged that the hospital authorities did not conduct any necessary safety check on the blood sample before administering it on the patient.

Vimsar superintendent B.M. Mishra said: "The head of the pathology department will lead the team, which will consist of a specialist surgeon, a medicine specialist and a doctor from the department of microbiology. The leader of the team, who is the head of pathology department, will select the three other doctors. The team will submit its inquiry report within 72 hours."

"A patient from Rairakhol was allegedly administered HIV-infected blood. The patient, admitted to the surgery department on June 9, had undergone surgery the next day. The surgery required blood transfusion and a relative of the patient had donated the blood. During a rapid test of the blood at that time, the blood sample was found to be okay. However, when an ELISA test was conducted on the patient, his blood was found to be HIV infected," said an official.

The rapid test is an immunoassay used for screening, and it produces quick results, in 30 minutes or less. Rapid tests use blood or oral fluid to look for antibodies to HIV. The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test detects and measures antibodies in one's blood.

"Later, there were allegations that another patient from Brjarajnagar was also administered hepatitis-infected blood at the hospital," said an official source.