**Summary:**
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, through the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), has released India's first National Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Animal Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks. These guidelines address the critical gap in India's veterinary transfusion medicine by establishing a scientific, ethical, and structured framework for blood transfusions in animals. The SOPs cover donor selection, blood collection, component processing, storage, transfusion procedures, monitoring, and safety safeguards.
Key highlights include the establishment of state-regulated veterinary blood banks with biosafety infrastructure, mandatory blood typing and crossmatching, donor eligibility criteria, emphasis on voluntary donations, integration of One Health principles, and standardized SOPs for transfusion monitoring and adverse reaction reporting. The guidelines also propose a roadmap for a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (NVBBN) with digital registries and an emergency helpline. Training modules will be incorporated into veterinary education.
These guidelines aim to improve veterinary healthcare, save animal lives, protect rural livelihoods, and advance animal welfare. They are designed to be dynamic and evolve with new scientific evidence and stakeholder feedback. India's livestock and companion animal sectors, comprising over 537 million livestock and 125 million companion animals and contributing 5.5% to the national GDP, will benefit from these advancements in veterinary care.
The guidelines were developed in consultation with the Veterinary Council of India, veterinary universities, ICAR institutes, state governments, veterinarians, and experts, aligning India's practices with global standards. The release was announced on August 25, 2025, by PIB Delhi. For a fact sheet on the Guidelines and SOPs, click on the provided link. Contact Aditi Agrawal for further information (Release ID: 2160690).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy development.
National GuidelinesSOPs for Animal Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks: The newly released guidelines and standard operating procedures for animal blood transfusion and blood banks in India.
Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying (DAHD): A department under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying responsible for animal husbandry and dairying policies.
Veterinary Council of India: An organization involved in consultations for developing the guidelines and SOPs.
ICAR institutes: Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes consulted during the development of the guidelines.
One Health: A concept integrated into the guidelines to manage zoonotic risks.
National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (NVBBN): A planned network with digital registries, real-time inventories, and an emergency helpline for veterinary blood banks.
BVSc AH curriculum: Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry curriculum into which training modules will be incorporated.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
India Releases First-Ever National Guidelines/SOPs
for Animal Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks
Guidelines aim to Establish State-Regulated
Veterinary Blood Banks; Stresses on Biosafety &
Future-Ready Innovations in Animal Blood
Transfusion
Posted On: 25 AUG 2025 7:03PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry & Dairying released the “Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Blood
Transfusion and Blood Banks for Animals in India”. Blood transfusion is globally recognized as a life-
saving intervention, essential for managing trauma, severe anaemia, surgical blood loss, infectious diseases,
and coagulation disorders in animals. Yet, until now, India lacked a comprehensive national framework for
veterinary transfusion medicine. Most animal transfusions were performed in emergencies, without
standardized donor screening, blood typing or storage protocols. These Guidelines/SOPs bridge this critical
gap by providing a scientific, ethical, and structured framework for donor selection, blood collection,
component processing, storage, transfusion procedures, monitoring, and safety safeguards in animals.
Developed after wide consultations with the Veterinary Council of India, veterinary universities, ICAR
institutes, state governments, practicing veterinarians, and experts, the document also aligns India’s practices
with global best standards.Key highlights of the Guidelines & SOPs include:
· Establishment of state-regulated veterinary blood banks with biosafety-compliant infrastructure.
· Mandatory blood typing and cross-matching to prevent incompatibility reactions.
· Donor eligibility criteria including health, vaccination, age, weight, and disease screening norms.
· Emphasis on voluntary, non-remunerated donations and informed consent with a Donor Rights
Charter.
· Integration of One Health principles to manage zoonotic risks.
· Standardized SOPs, forms, and checklists for donor registration, transfusion monitoring and
adverse reaction reporting.
· A roadmap for establishing a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) with digital
registries, real-time inventories, and an emergency helpline.
· Incorporation of training modules into BVSc & AH curriculum, postgraduate programs and
Continuing Veterinary Education.
Looking ahead, these guidelines encourage innovation through mobile blood collection units,
cryopreservation for rare blood types, mobile applications for donor-recipient matching, and advanced
transfusion research.
India’s livestock and companion animal sectors are among the largest and most diverse in the world,
comprising over 537 million livestock and more than 125 million companion animals. Together, the sector
contributes 5.5% to the national GDP and over 30% to agricultural GDP, serving as a cornerstone for food
security, rural livelihoods and public health. With advancements in veterinary diagnostics and therapeutics,there is a rising demand for specialized emergency veterinary care, particularly blood transfusion support
across species.
The release of these guidelines marks a significant milestone in India’s veterinary healthcare ecosystem
strengthening clinical care, saving animal lives, protecting rural livelihoods, and advancing the cause of
animal welfare nationwide. Developed as an advisory and non-statutory framework, the document will
remain dynamic, evolving with new scientific evidence, field experiences and stakeholder feedback
while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, biosafety and public confidence.
For Fact Sheet on Guidelines & SOPs : CLICK HERE
****
Aditi Agrawal
(Release ID: 2160690)