UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC to look into feasibility of NAT for blood transfusion
Q1. Which one of the following is the National Regulatory Authority responsible for licensing blood banks and regulating blood and blood products in India?
- A. Indian Council of Medical Research under the Department of Health Research
- B. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- C. National Centre for Disease Control under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- D. Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology
Q2. With reference to Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) vis-à-vis Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for screening donated blood, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike ELISA, NAT directly detects viral genetic material (DNA or RNA) rather than antibodies or antigens generated by the host.
2. NAT shortens the serological 'window period' for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C as compared with ELISA-based screening.
3. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, NAT is currently mandatory for every licensed blood bank in India, whereas ELISA is optional.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike ELISA, NAT directly detects viral genetic material (DNA or RNA) rather than antibodies or antigens generated by the host.
- NAT shortens the serological 'window period' for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C as compared with ELISA-based screening.
- Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, NAT is currently mandatory for every licensed blood bank in India, whereas ELISA is optional.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. In the context of transfusion-transmissible infections, which one of the following best describes the 'serological window period'?
- A. The interval between blood collection from a donor and its release for clinical use after completion of laboratory testing
- B. The interval between the entry of a virus into the body and the appearance of detectable antibodies, during which conventional serological tests may yield false-negative results
- C. The shelf-life period during which donated whole blood and its components remain viable for safe transfusion
- D. The interval after recovery during which a patient continues to shed low levels of viral particles but is no longer infectious
Q4. As per the current regulations governing licensed blood banks in India, for how many transfusion-transmissible infections is screening of every unit of donated blood mandatory before its release for transfusion?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. Five
- D. Seven