AABB Prehospital Transfusion Certificate Program 

This program is offered entirely online - independent and self-paced - through AABB's Education Platform. Immediate access is granted upon registration, and access is available for one year from the date of registration. Learners must complete all modules, assessments and a program evaluation within the year to receive the Certificate of Completion.

Purchase of individual modules is not permitted.

Fees

Introductory pricing is available through January 31, 2027.

Institutional Registration Pricing:

• Organizations receive 15% off (20% for AABB Premium Corporate Partners) the per-learner rate when purchasing four (4) or more individual registrations at the same time (bulk registration).

Assessment Retake Fee:

• $15 - Contact the AABB eLearning team at eLearning@aabb.org to request the Retake Form. The retake provides three additional attempts on any failed module assessment(s). It is recommended to complete all modules and module assessments before requesting a retake, as the retake will apply to any and all failed module assessments.

How To Register

Individuals can register online via the AABB Store. If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to create a free one. Payment confirmation and access to the program will be provided immediately after registering.

Institutions that want to purchase registrations for learners must complete and return the Institutional Registration Form. Payment confirmation will be provided within 2-5 business days.

Questions related to registration should be directed to eLearning@aabb.org.

Upon completion of the program, participants should be able to collaborate effectively with blood providers, hospital partners, medical directors and other stakeholders; develop an operational framework that supports the safe, effective and compliant delivery of prehospital transfusion; and apply clinical, logistical, quality, safety and communication principles to implementing and evaluating a prehospital transfusion program within their organization.

Module 1: The "Why" - Clinical Rationale and Framework
This module builds an understanding of the scientific and clinical imperatives driving early transfusion in the prehospital environment. Topics include:

• Trauma Mortality and Preventable Hemorrhage
• Evolution of Blood-on-Board Programs
• Basic Transfusion Physiology
• Risks and Benefits in Field Transfusion

Module 2: Understanding Blood Products
This module provides essential literacy in blood product types, storage and risk-benefit considerations. This module is broken into four parts:

• Blood Components in Prehospital Use
• Product Labeling, Traceability and Documentation
• Storage and Handling
• Alloimmunization and Patient Selection

Module 3: Models of Implementation
This module provides an overview of different models’ organizations can use to establish a prehospital transfusion program. Topics include:

• Implementation Models and Program Readiness
• Regulatory Considerations and Stakeholder Partnerships
• Program Development and Operational Planning
• Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Module 4: Logistics and Operations
This module equips learners with the operational knowledge to manage blood products safely throughout the prehospital transfusion lifecycle. Topics include:

• Storage and Transport
• Documentation and Data Capture
• Return and Replenishment
• Financial and Contractual Logistics

Module 5: Patient Selection, Consent and Field Administration
This module teaches foundational decision-making, consent principles and reaction identification and management. Topics include:

• Indications for Prehospital Transfusion
• Consent and Documentation
• Transfusion Administration in the Field
• Adverse Reactions

Module 6: Managing Risk Through a Quality and Safety Framework
This module instills understanding of how EMS transfusion programs maintain quality and align with AABB standards. Topics include:

• Quality System Essentials
• Risk Mitigation
• Continuous Improvement
• Accreditation and Compliance

Module 7: Collaboration and Communication
This module prepares EMS leaders to build and sustain strong partnerships. Topics include:

• Building Partnerships
• Communication and Joint Training
• Expanding Networks
• Sustaining Collaboration

Complete the modules in order, as information builds upon preceding lessons. Since this is a self-paced program, learners may decide how much time is needed to review and study the materials. It is estimated that it will take approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes to complete the program (this includes estimated time to view the learning modules, take assessments and complete the evaluation). A suggested strategy is to create a study plan or timeline for completing each module. Follow that plan to ensure timely completion within the year that you will have access to the program.

Assessment and Grading to Obtain Certificate

For successful completion of the program resulting in conferral of the AABB Prehospital Transfusion Certificate:

1. Read and carefully study each slide in each module.
2. After each module, complete the assessment and answer all questions, scoring 80% or higher. The assessment is a pass/fail exercise where learners will have three (3) opportunities to achieve 80% or higher. There is no grade provided for each assessment; rather, it is an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the content provided in the program. On each assessment:
   • Learners will receive multiple-choice questions and be asked to select the correct answer.
   • Learners will receive feedback as to whether an answer choice is correct or incorrect.
3. Complete the Prehospital Transfusion Certificate Program Post-Program Evaluation (Certificate of Completion and continuing education credit issued).

This program is eligible for 5.75 continuing education credits/contact hours, awarded for the estimated time to complete all seven instructional modules (assessment and evaluation time not included). To earn continuing education credit and the program certificate, participants must complete all required modules, achieve the required passing score on the assessments, and complete the program evaluation. For more information on each credit type, please visit the AABB Continuing Education Credits webpage.

Joint Accreditation In support of improving patient care, AABB is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians
AABB designates this enduring material for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Laboratory Professionals and ASCP BOC Credential Maintenance Program
AABB will provide laboratory professionals who successfully complete the program with a certificate of participation documenting 5.75 hours of continuing education, which may be self-reported to the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Credential Maintenance Program (ASCP BOC CMP). Participants may apply the 5.75 hours toward their CMP requirements, subject to the requirements and point-allocation rules applicable to their individual credential.

For All Participants
Participants are responsible for determining whether this activity meets the continuing education requirements of their certification organization, licensing board, employer or other authority.

Disclosure Declaration
It is the policy of the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of its CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. AABB has evaluated, identified and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that the presence of such relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

Disclosures for the planners, program faculty, peer reviewers and AABB personnel can be viewed here. All conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

While there are numerous participants that have brought this program to fruition, key faculty include (titles and affiliations at the time of program development):

Content Authors

Xiomara Fernandez, MD (Advisory Panel)
Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine and Coagulation
George Washington University Hospital

Courtney K. Hopkins, DO (Advisory Panel)
Vice President, Corporate Medical Director
Vitalant

Clayton Kazan, MD (Advisory Panel)
Medical Director
Los Angeles County Fire Department

Matthew J. Levy, DO, MSc, FAEMS, FACEP (Advisory Panel)
Chief Medical Officer
Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services

David Long
Executive Director
Tidewater EMS Council

Randall Schaefer, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, CEN
CEO
Schaefer Consulting, LLC

Audra L. Taylor
Vice President, Blood and Tissue Operations
South Texas Blood & Tissue

Brittany Umberger, MLS(ASCP)^CM (Advisory Panel)
Blood Bank Manager
University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical System

Advisory Panel

Tracy Bridges, MLT(ASCP), MBA
Executive Vice President/Chief Technical Officer
The Blood Connection

Eric Cohn
EMS Captain
Howard County Fire & Rescue (MD)

Vahé Ender, NRP, FP-C
Clinical Projects Manager/Critical Care Transport Paramedic
Boston MedFlight

Eric Garfinkel, DO
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine; Assistant Medical Director
Johns Hopkins Lifeline & Howard County Fire & Rescue
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Justine Garza
VP of Business Development
We Are Blood

Joshua Heins
Sergeant, Flight Paramedic
Maryland State Police Aviation Command

David LeClere
Austin-Travis County EMS

Holly O'Byrne, MPA
Lieutenant/Paramedic, Whole Blood Coordinator
DC Fire and EMS

Joshua Todd
Division Chief
Austin-Travis County EMS

AABB Staff Contributors

Christopher Bocquet
Senior Director, Standards Development and Quality

Sharon Carayiannis, MT(ASCP)HP
Vice President, Accreditation, Standards & Quality

Joyce Gray
Scientific Education Project Manager

Jay Lewis, MPH
Director, Marketing & Communications

Leah Mendelsohn Stone, JD
Vice President, Public Policy & Advocacy

Andrea Michaud, MLS(ASCP), MSA
Director, Consulting Services

Tracie Nichols, MS, MLS(ASCP), SBB^CM, CABP, CQA(ASQ)
Senior Director, Accreditation Compliance, Accreditation and Quality

Matthew Swingholm, MS, MLS(ASCP)SBB^CM
Project Development Manager, Accreditation & Quality

Jackie Thomas
Vice President, Education

Program Copyright

The AABB Prehospital Transfusion Certificate Program modules, assessments and recordings are ©2026 AABB, all rights reserved. Reproducing and/or distributing this program or any material within is prohibited.