Maldives to Introduce Global Standard NAT Blood Testing in July

The Maldives Blood Services (MBS) is set to introduce nucleic acid testing (NAT) in July, a move expected to significantly strengthen the safety of donated blood in the country.

Speaking on a state media programme on Wednesday, MBS Senior Specialist Registrar and Paediatrician Dr Ahmed Umar said ensuring the safety of both blood donors and recipients remains a key priority. He said the NAT machine is expected to be installed and commissioned within the next two weeks as part of efforts to adopt a more advanced and reliable testing system.

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According to Dr Umar, MBS already uses modern screening methods and all donated blood undergoes mandatory testing for infectious diseases before it is transfused. The introduction of NAT will further improve the detection of blood-borne infections by identifying them at an earlier stage than existing testing methods.

He said blood is not provided for transfusion unless it has been tested for specific diseases and noted that NAT represents an improvement over the current system.

Dr Umar added that blood donors are screened in accordance with World Health Organization standards before completing the donation process, with the new testing method expected to provide an additional layer of safety.

MBS also reported a continued increase in the number of blood donors compared with previous years, particularly among young people aged 18 and above. The agency stressed the importance of maintaining a stable pool of regular donors, especially as efforts continue to encourage voluntary blood donation following the observance of World Blood Donor Day on 14 June.

The agency highlighted the importance of screening and awareness in preventing inherited blood disorders such as thalassaemia. Health experts note that pre-marital carrier screening and genetic counselling can help reduce the risk of severe forms of the disease, although compulsory screening programmes and penalties for non-compliance remain subjects of debate internationally due to ethical and human rights concerns.

The Maldives has one of the highest thalassaemia carrier rates in the world. While the global average carrier rate is around 1.7 per cent, an estimated 16 to 18 per cent of Maldivians are carriers of beta-thalassaemia. Health authorities estimate that around one in every 30 marriages occurs between two carriers, significantly increasing the risk of children being born with Thalassaemia Major, a severe and potentially life-threatening condition.