Maldives Launches Nucleic Acid Testing to Strengthen Blood Transfusion Safety

The Maldives has introduced Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for the first time to detect blood-borne infections earlier and strengthen the safety of blood transfusion services.

The service was launched on Thursday at Maldives Blood Services under the Malé City Group of Hospitals, marking what the group’s Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem described as a significant milestone in the modernisation of blood services in the Maldives.

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In a social media post, Haleem said the service uses advanced technology to detect infections including HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) in donated blood much faster than conventional testing methods.

He said the introduction of NAT would help ensure safer blood transfusions and represents a key step towards bringing the country’s blood services in line with international standards.

Haleem said the initiative is aligned with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s policies and pledges to strengthen the healthcare sector and improve the quality of services provided to the public.

He also described the launch as a national step towards achieving the strategic objectives outlined in the national standards for blood services and the Maldives Thalassaemia Master Plan 2024–2034.