Vietnam: Maximum prices of blood products using additional kits and materials

This Circular supplements the regulations on the maximum prices of blood products using additional kits and materials previously prescribed in Circular 05/2017/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

Specifically, as per Clause 1, Article 9 of Circular 20/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, which supplements Section 6, Point 9, Clause 3, Article 3 of Circular 05/2017/TT-BYT, the maximum prices of blood products using additional kits and materials are as follows:

Note: Maximum prices specified above shall not include:

- Cost of transporting blood from blood banks to health facilities.

In the cases where a blood bank transports blood to a health facility, price of a unit of blood or blood product shall be added as cost of transport with the maximum of VND 17,000/blood unit (blood product unit).

- Cost of testing abnormal antibodies according to provisions of Point a Clause 1 and Point c Clause 4 Article 14 of Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

If a blood transfusion facility perform a test on abnormal antibodies, price of a unit of whole blood or packed red blood cell volume of over and equal to 250 ml and blood product such as apheresis platelet concentrate, apheresis WBC concentrate or platelet concentrate shall be added up to VND 17,000/unit.

- Cost of nucleic acid testing (NAT) is specified in Point b Clause 1 and Point g Clause 4 Article 14 of the Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT.

Where a blood bank perform a NAT, price of a unit of whole blood or packed red blood cell volume of over and equal to 250 ml and blood product such as apheresis platelet concentrate, apheresis WBC concentrate or platelet concentrate shall be added up to VND 210,000/unit.

- Cost of compulsory conditional testing is prescribed in Points a, b and c Clause 2 and Points c, i and k Clause 4 Article 14 of the Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT.

Blood banks are permitted to perform the aforementioned tests only after they meet applicable regulations on blood transfusion and get opinions from attending doctors.

- Costs of performing blood group test, immunocompetence test, abnormal antibody determination and identification, bedside blood group test and kits for blood units and blood product units to patients.

Amendments and supplements can be found in: Circular 20/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, effective from November 1, 2018.

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