BUNDLE Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, 35th edition – Print and Guidance

The 35th edition of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services details the latest standards of practice in blood banking and transfusion medicine. As in the past, each chapter heading represents one of the Quality System Essentials and the quality standards are supplemented by technical requirements. The effective date of this edition is April 1, 2026.

Significant Changes to the 35th Edition

• Standards 1.9 and 1.9.1 have been added to ensure that clear communication exists between AABB and all accredited laboratories in cases where an event has occurred that has impacted their accreditation status.
• Standard 3.5.4.1 clarifies what has to occur if a singular piece of equipment cannot be identified as the cause of the nonconformance.
• Standard 3.7 has been added to ensure that all laboratories monitor their critical technology infrastructure and that they function as expected. This standard requires that there are defined checks to monitor that technology is working as intended and expected.
• Standard 5.1.9.3.2 has been added to ensure that requirements surrounding temporary storage containers and what is expected with regard to the maintenance of viability of blood and blood components.

Guidance for Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, 35th edition, includes verbatim requirements from the BBTS Standards interspersed with guidance. Language from the BBTS Standards is presented; when there is appropriate guidance for that standard, the guidance language follows the standard with the heading "Guidance." This format allows the reader to see both the requirement and the associated guidance side by side.

Please note that there is no guidance for some standards. The 34th Edition Blood Bank/Transfusion Service Standards Committee has chosen to focus Guidance for Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services on those issues that may require additional context and/or examples to assist in attaining compliance with the Standards.

Effective date: April 1, 2026

BUNDLE EDITION: AABB, 2026, 187 pages, ISBN 978-1-56395-548-8 | AABB, 2026, 141 pages

Product Code: 264020
Member Price: $347
Nonmember Price: $512

Item Details (Standards):

View Table of Contents (pdf)

View Preface (pdf)

View Sample Pages (pdf)

Item Details (Guidance):

View Table of Contents (pdf)

View Preface (pdf)

View Sample Pages (pdf)