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Standards Programs

AABB has been setting standards for quality and patient safety for nearly 60 years. AABB’s standards setting activities have evolved with the field, moving from the first Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services to a diverse Standards Program composed of seven distinct sets of Standards.

Learn more about the History of AABB’s Standards Programs.

 Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services

Outlines requirements for donor qualification, blood collection, processing, storage, and transfusion.

Current edition: 32nd edition
Effective date: July 1, 2020
Revision cycle: 24 months (April of even numbered years)

NOTE: The effective date of the 32nd edition was shifted from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that the BB/TS Standards will remain on an April 1 of even year effective cycle.

Acquiring Standards

The print version, portal version, printed guidance and bundle packages of the 32nd edition of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services is available for purchase.

Standards Development

  • Response to Comments - Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, 30th edition. For a complete look at the significant changes that have been made to the 30th edition, please refer to the Guidance within the Standards Portal.
  • Response to Comments - Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, 31st edition. For a complete look at the significant changes that have been made to the 31st edition, please refer to the Guidance within the Standards Portal.
  • Response to Comments and Significant Changes to the Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, 32nd edition.

 Standards for Cellular Therapy Services

Outlines requirements for the donor eligibility and collection, processing, storage, and administration of any type of cellular therapy product.

Current edition: 9th edition
Effective date: July 1, 2019
Revision cycle: 24 months (July of odd numbered years)

Acquiring Standards

The print and Portal versions of the 9th edition of Standards for Cellular Therapy Services, are available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

Related Information   

  • Responses to Public Comments to the 9th edition of CT Standards.
    For a complete look at the significant changes that have been made to the 9th edition, please refer to the Guidance within the Standards Portal.

 Standards for Immunohematology Reference Laboratories

Outlines requirements for highly specialized laboratories that provide an essential service to patients who have specific serologic complexities and/or need rare blood components.

Current edition: 11th edition
Effective date: July 1, 2020
Revision cycle: 24 months (April of even numbered years)

NOTE: The effective date of the 11th edition was shifted from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that the IRL Standards will remain on an April 1 of even year effective cycle.

Acquiring Standards

The print version, Portal versions, printed guidance and bundle packages of the 11th edition of Standards for Immunohematology Reference Laboratories, are available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

Standards Development

  • Immunohematology Reference Laboratories – Inventory Resources, Reference Standards 2.2.A and B.
  • Response to Comments Received to the 10th edition of Standards for Immunohematology Reference Laboratories.
  • Response to Comments Received to the 11th edition of Standards for Immunohematology Reference Laboratories.

 Standards for Molecular Testing for Red Cell, Platelet, and Neutrophil Antigens

Outlines requirements for identifying and predicting red cell, platelet, and neutrophil antigens by molecular methods.

Current edition: 4th edition
Effective date: October 1, 2018
Revision cycle: 24 months (October of even numbered years)

Acquiring Standards

The print and Standards Portal versions of the 4th edition of Standards for Molecular Testing for Red Cell, Platelet, and Neutrophil Antigens, are available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

Standards Development

  • Response to Comments to the 4th edition

 Standards for Out-of-Hospital Transfusion Administrative Services

The Standards for Out of Hospital Transfusion Service (OHTAS Standards) was prepared by the AABB Board of Directors, AABB staff and key volunteers from AABB’s Blood Banks/Transfusion Services Standards Committee. The goal of the OHTAS Standards is to maintain and enhance the quality and safety of services provided by out of hospital transfusion services (infusion centers, long term care facilities, hospice or home care settings) and to provide a basis for the accreditation by AABB.

Current edition: 1st edition
Effective date: July 1, 2018
Revision cycle: 24 months (July of even numbered years)

Acquiring Standards

The print version, Portal versions and bundle packages of the 1st edition of Standards for Out-of-Hospital Transfusion Administrative Services is available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

 Standards for a Patient Blood Management Program

Outlines requirements for essential activities of a patient blood management program surrounding patient evaluation and clinical management of those who may or may not require a transfusion. Specific topics include the use of appropriate indications for transfusion, minimization of blood loss, and optimization of patient red cell mass. In recognition of the range of clinical services offered at different hospitals, the Patient Blood Management Standards Program Unit created three program activity levels (Levels 1, 2 and 3). While a small hospital’s program may perform activities described as Level 3, a hospital with a large trauma center might incorporate all activities encompassed by Level 1. The levels do not reflect a hierarchy; they simply acknowledge differences in the structure of the hospital in which the PBM program is located.

Current edition: 2nd edition
Effective date: January 1, 2018
Revision cycle: 24 months (January of even numbered years)

Acquiring Standards

The print version, Portal versions, and bundle packages of the 2nd edition of Standards for a Patient Blood Management Program, are available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

Note: The 3rd edition of Standards for a Patient Blood Management Program is now available for purchase, including the associated printed Guidance document.

Standards Development

Related Information

 Standards for Perioperative Autologous Blood Collection and Administration

Outlines requirements for the delivery of perioperative services by a facility’s anesthesiologists, perfusionists, surgeons, transfusionists, and other relevant professionals.

Current edition: 8th edition
Effective date: January 1, 2019
Revision cycle: 24 months (January of odd numbered years)

Acquiring Standards

The print version of the 8th edition of Standards for Perioperative Autologous Blood Collection and Administration, is available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

Standards Development

  • Response to Comments to the 8th edition

 Standards for Relationship Testing Laboratories

Outlines requirements for laboratories performing parentage testing and complex relationship testing.

Current edition: 14th edition
Effective date: January 1, 2020
Revision cycle: 24 months (January of even numbered years)

Acquiring Standards

The print version, Portal versions, and bundle packages of the 14th edition of Standards for Relationship Testing Laboratories (both printed Standards and Standards Portal as well as printed Standards and printed Guidance), are available for purchase on the Standards Resources webpage.

Standards Development

  • Responses to Public Comments to the 14th edition of RT Standards are available.
    For a complete look at the significant changes that have been made to the 14th edition, please refer to the Guidance within the Standards Portal.