General Information
Directory of United States SBB Education Programs
Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCP)
Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP)
Donor Phlebotomy Technician, DPT(ASCP)
Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine
Guidance for Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine
AABB–Fenwal SBB Scholarship Awards Program
AABB–Fenwal Transfusion Medicine Scholarships Award Program
Specialist in Blood Bank Technology Programs
The AABB, in cooperation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), has been accrediting Specialist in Blood Bank Technology (SBB) Programs since 1962. Most SBB Programs are conducted in hospitals or community blood centers or universities, and consist of didactic sessions combined with practical work. Distance Learning formats are also available. SBB Programs offer education on a wide variety of subjects including genetics, immunology, blood groups, collection and storage of blood and components, donor processing, immune mechanisms, component therapy, transfusion of the newborn, complications of transfusion, general administration, personnel administration, education and automated data processing.
Directory of United States SBB Education Programs
Certification Exams
Specialist in Blood Banking Technology, SBB(ASCP) Certification
SBBs carry out all operations of the blood bank, from routine testing to the most advanced procedures. The majority of today's SBBs are technical supervisors and laboratory managers and oversee reference laboratories, SBBs also work in other areas such as education and research. For a complete directory of SBB Education Programs, please see Directory of SBB Education Programs.
All Specialist in Blood Bank Technology Programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). To obtain a copy of the current Standards and Guidelines for Specialist in Blood Bank Technology Programs, write to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL, 33756 or call the CAAHEP national office at 727-210-2350. This information can also be found on the CAAHEP website, www.caahep.org.
Upon successful completion of an accredited SBB Program, students may apply to take the Board of Certification SBB Certification Examination to become certified as a Specialist in Blood Banking Technology (SBB). This examination is offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) in collaboration with the AABB. Applications and Examination Eligibility Requirements for Specialist in Blood Banking Technology are available from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification at 1-800-267-2727 or write to ASCP Board of Certification, 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603 or via email to boc@ascp.org.
Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP)
The AABB in collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification also offers the Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP) Certification Examination. This written examination is for categorical certification at the technologist level. The BB certification examination is intended primarily for those individuals employed in blood banking who have baccalaureate degrees but are not certified medical technologists. Some certified Medical Technologists, MT(ASCP), may also take the BB certification examination, because the certification allows them to demonstrate more comprehensive knowledge of blood banking.
Applications and Examination Eligibility Requirements for Technologist in Blood Banking (BB) are available from the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Board of Certification at 1-800-267-2727 or write to ASCP Board of Certification, 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603 or via email to boc@ascp.org.
Donor Phlebotomy Technician, DPT(ASCP)
The Donor Phlebotomy Technician certification provides a means of achieving recognition for those who are collecting units of blood from volunteer donors. The DPT (ASCP) is a way to demonstrate competence and knowledge for phlebotomists performing blood collection. For more information, visit http://www.ascp.org or email boc@ascp.org.
Documents for Faculty of SBB Educational Programs
Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits programs upon the recommendations of the AABB's Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood Bank Technology Schools (Coa-SBBT). The accreditation Standards are the minimum standards of quality used in accrediting programs that prepare individuals to enter the Specialist in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine (SBBT/TM) profession. These Standards are to be used for the development, evaluation, and self-analysis of Specialist in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine programs. The revised 2004 Standards (available through the CAAHEP Web site) are outcomes-based and will be effective November 1, 2004. Standards are printed in regular typeface in outline form. Guidelines are printed in italic typeface in narrative form.
Guidance for Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine (PDF)
Annual reports are required by each program. The information may be entered into the CAAHEP database at http://arms.caahep.org.
The surveys below shall be used by the programs for their annual report.
Surveys are only sent to the AABB National Office prior to continuing or initial on site assessments.
SBB Employer Survey (PDF)
SBB Graduate Survey (PDF)