The blood seized by the police with fake labels of the state's largest blood bank at King George's Medical College (KGMC) were sent for detailed examination to the SGPGIMS.

Earlier, a report by the SGPGIMS revealed that saline water was being mixed with the blood to increase its quantity, which led to further dilution of the already low haemoglobin level in the blood.

Lucknow Superintendent of Police (City) Paresh Pandey, who busted the racket, had initially said he suspected animal blood was being mixed with human blood. Later, it was found that the blood was being diluted with saline water.

Last week a joint team of the FDA and police raided a number of private hospitals and blood banks across the city and a show cause notice was served to three blood banks.

'Charak Pathology, Indira Diagnostic Centre and Kohli Blood Bank were found functioning without proper facilities of blood extraction and storage. They were also not having proper certificates,' an FDA official said.

The gang used to buy blood from professional donors like drug addicts, rickshaw pullers and beggars and would mix it with saline water to make three units from one unit of blood, police said. This was sold at Rs.1,000-1,500 per unit.