New Delhi, Feb. 5 -- NEW DELHI: The Union government has ordered a nationwide audit of all 4,153 licensed blood banks and centres after children in some states tested HIV-positive following allegedly contaminated transfusions, according to two government officials and a document that Mint reviewed.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has started risk-based inspections of all blood centres and any facility not compliant with the standards will be closed down, the officials said. Risk-based inspections prioritize surveillance of facilities based on potential risk to patients instead of random checks.

The health ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to conduct a comprehensive audit of blood centres on prio...