The blood transfusion process in government hospitals could grind to a complete halt if the supplier suspends providing the reagents needed to perform the ELISA blood test.

The test is essential to determining the presence of infections such as HIV, syphilis, malaria, hepatitis B and C, and pathogenic germs in the blood given to the patient during a blood transfusion.

Health ministry sources indicate that no blood will be given to any patient without the ELISA blood test is done.

The supplier of reagents has decided to suspend the supply owing to the failure of the ministry of health to settle the outstanding dues.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has decided to purchase the necessary reagents on a weekly basis with cash payments until the ministry settles millions of rupees owed to the supplier.

Sources at the blood transfusion centre revealed that if the Ministry of Health fails to pay the money for even one week, the supply of required reagents for the week will grind to a halt, paralysing the entire system.