FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 22, 2003 |
CONTACT:
AABB
Jennifer Garfinkel or
Emily Yu
(301) 215-6557
publicrelations@aabb.org
|
AABB Celebrates 45th Anniversary
of Accreditation Program
Accreditation Process
Helps Determine Whether Blood Banking Facilities Meet Standards
Bethesda, MD – The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
is celebrating the 45th anniversary of its Accreditation
Program — the first voluntary, peer-review program of its kind
in the blood community. The Accreditation Program was established to
improve the quality and safety of collecting, processing, testing, distributing
and administering blood and blood components.
“AABB’s accreditation process helps facilities determine
whether operations meet existing standards for professional proficiency,
and provides guidance on how to achieve and/or exceed the standards,”
said Karen Shoos Lipton, chief executive officer of AABB. “AABB
Accreditation is the designation of choice for blood banking, transfusion
medicine and cellular therapy because it demonstrates an organization's
commitment to advanced learning, continuous improvement, and innovation
by striving to sustain the highest levels of patient and donor care.”
AABB Accreditation requires an intensive on-site assessment by specially
trained AABB assessors — volunteer professionals who are themselves
AABB members. Assessors evaluate policies and procedures to ensure
that the level of medical, technical and administrative performance
meets or exceeds standards set by AABB. To remain AABB accredited,
facilities must undergo the on-site peer review every two years.
The Program was originally conceived by members in the 1950s as an
educational process to help ensure that blood banks and transfusion
services adhered to good blood banking and transfusion practices.
Today, this independent assessment of a facility’s operations
continues to serve as a valuable tool to improve both compliance and
operations and to help facilities prepare for other inspections.
In addition to the collection, processing, testing, distribution
and administration of blood and blood components, AABB Accreditation
is granted for:
- hematopoietic progenitor cell activities;
- cord blood activities;
- perioperative activities;
- parentage testing activities; and
- immunohematology reference laboratories.
“AABB-accredited organizations are recognized by their peers
as leaders in their field and as pivotal voices in the dialogue through
which consensus-based, voluntary standards are developed and implemented,”
said Susan Wilkinson, EdD, MT(ASCP)SBB, chair of AABB’s Accreditation
Program Committee. “The Accreditation Program has always been
one of the most valuable services provided by AABB to its members.”
About AABB
Established in 1947, AABB is an international association of blood
banks, including hospital and community blood centers, transfusion
and transplantation services and individuals involved in activities
related to transfusion and transplantation medicine. The AABB supports
high standards of medical, technical and administrative performance,
scientific investigation, clinical application and education. It is
dedicated to encouraging the voluntary donation of blood and other
tissues and organs through education, public information and research.
AABB member facilities are responsible for collecting virtually all
of the nation’s blood supply and transfusing more than 80 percent.
Approximately 2,000 institutions (community and hospital blood banks,
hospital transfusion services and laboratories) and 8,000 individuals
are members of the AABB including physicians, scientists, administrators,
medical technologies, blood donor recruiters and public relations
personnel. Members are located in all 50 states and 80 foreign countries.
AABB members provide direction to the Association through its elected
Board of Directors, and more than 30 committees of volunteer professionals.