Investigation deepens after HIV-infected blood transfusion incident:41 donors remain untraceable while 15 refused mandatory blood testing

A major revelation has emerged in the case involving five thalassemia patients who were allegedly transfused with HIV-infected blood in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district in December 2025. A joint task force formed by the Health Commissioner found that out of 147 suspected blood donors, 15 individuals have outright denied ever donating blood, while 41 donors’ mobile phones are switched off, severely complicating the investigation. The developments have also raised serious questions over the functioning and verification process of the district blood bank. Investigation faces major challenge The Health Department had prepared a list of 196 donors whose blood was transfused to the affected children. So far, authorities have successfully traced and tested 49 donors. During the latest search operation, officials located another 34 people and conducted HIV screening, with all reports returning negative. However, investigators are now struggling to trace the remaining donors. The refusal of 15 individuals to acknowledge blood donation and the inability to contact 41 others has emerged as the biggest obstacle in the probe. Officials suspect fake contact details were submitted Monal Singh, Assistant Director of Voluntary Blood Donation at the Madhya Pradesh State AIDS Control Committee, inspected the district hospital blood bank on Tuesday. Following repeated denials from several individuals contacted over phone, officials suspect that some donors may have entered phone numbers of relatives or acquaintances in the blood bank register instead of their own. Monal Singh reviewed the list of traced donors and conducted a detailed assessment of the blood bank’s operational procedures and record-keeping system. Updated report to be submitted to Collector Assistant Director Monal Singh is scheduled to meet Satna Collector Dr. Satish Kumar S on May 27 to share the latest status of the investigation. Under the administration’s strategy, donors who have not yet reported to the ICTC (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre) will be counseled and encouraged to undergo blood testing. Joint task force formed by Health Commissioner Health Commissioner Dhanaraju S constituted a special joint task force to investigate the serious lapse. Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Manoj Shukla has been appointed chairman of the team. Other members include ICTC Nodal Officer Dr. Pooja Gupta, Blood Transfusion Officer Dr. Ankita Pandey, Assistant Director Monal Singh, and Drug Inspector Priyanka Chaubey. Civil Surgeon Dr. Amar Singh and other health officials were also present during Tuesday’s inspection of the blood bank. Serious questions raised over blood bank procedures The investigation has intensified concerns about how donor verification was conducted at the blood bank and whether proper screening protocols were followed before transfusion. Officials are now examining whether incorrect contact information, poor documentation, or negligence in donor identification contributed to the incident involving HIV-infected blood reaching vulnerable thalassemia patients.