New Delhi (PTI): Ambulances accompanying Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her two children-- Rahul and Priyanka--will henceforth carry stocks of their matching blood group instead of blood particles which has a limited use during any emergencies.

The Union Government has come out with a fresh order by which "crystalloids" and "plasma expander" of an SPG protectee will be substituted with the blood of the VVIP if it was required to minimise threat to their life during emergencies. SPG protectees other than the Gandhi family members already had the facility of blood matching their group being available readily.

Official sources said as such there was no increase of any security for Gandhi and her two children as they were already SPG protectees.

The sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs came out with the order recently whereby it was decided to replace "crystalloids" and "plasma expanders" in the ambulances accompanying Gandhi and her children with blood matching their group.

The crystalloids and plasma were stocked in their ambulances so that it came handy till the VIP could be shifted to a hospital in the event of any attack or medical emergency.

While the crystalloids help in maintaining blood pressure upto three hours, plasma expanders can sustain the blood circulation in a patient for three to eight hours.

Ruling out security issues as a factor for the new rule, the sources said the move was undertaken after much consideration and advice of medical experts.

"Blood is always better than crystalloids and Plasma Expander," said an official.

The circular has been sent to all the state governments and Union territories for necessary action.