Supreme Court Rejects Plea for Mandatory NAT Testing in Blood Banks

The Supreme Court on March 13, 2026, declined a plea by the Sarvesham Mangalam Foundation seeking mandatory Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT) in all blood banks to ensure infection-free blood transfusions. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, emphasized its lack of expertise in medical science and noted financial constraints faced by states. It advised the petitioner to submit representations to health authorities, who may decide with expert advice. The court also questioned the petitioner's motives, while the petitioner highlighted risks to thalassemia patients from infected blood.