Event

Immunohematology Boot Camp: ABO System (24EL-466)

Please note: AABB reserves the right to make updates to this program.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024
2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Time
Program Number: 24EL-466

  • Educational Track: Technical/Clinical
  • Topics: Blood Donation & Collection, Patient Transfusion
  • Intended Audience: Facilities that perform molecular testing, Hospital Blood Banks, Hospitals, Immunohematology Reference Labs (IRL’s), Laboratory Staff, Managers/Supervisors, Medical Directors, Physicians, Research Scientists, Residents/Fellows, Students (MD, MT, SBB), Technologists
  • Teaching Level: Intermediate
  • Director/Moderator: Lynsi Rahorst, MHPE, MLS(ASCP)SBB, Manager, Education & Training, IRL/Genomics, New York Blood Center Enterprises, New York, NY
    Speaker: Laura Cooling, MD, Associate Director, Transfusion Medicine; Director, Cellular Therapy Laboratory; Director, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

  • Program Description

    The ABO system, first described by Karl Landsteiner in 1900, remains the most important blood group system in transfusion medicine and transplantation. While testing for ABO is a requirement for blood donors, a standard part of pretransfusion testing for patients, and a most basic concept in transfusion medicine, our understanding of the ABO system continues to expand as new ABO alleles are routinely discovered. It is imperative for transfusion medicine professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of this most important blood group system.

    This program will offer a thorough overview of the ABO blood group system, beginning with a description of the biochemical and structural aspects of ABO antigens. The importance of ABO testing, from routine testing for transfusion to monitoring antibody titers for transplant, will be discussed. Causes and resolution of ABO discrepancies will be highlighted. Additionally, molecular aspects of the ABO blood group system will be reviewed, including both the applications and limitations of ABO genotyping.

    Learning Objectives

    After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

    • Explain the biochemistry and structure of ABO blood group antigens and their importance in transfusion medicine and transplantation.
    • Describe required serologic testing for ABO in donors and transfusion recipients, along with ABO considerations in transplantation.
    • Identify both common and unusual causes of ABO discrepancies and address their resolution.
    • Discuss the molecular background of the ABO blood group system, the diversity of ABO alleles, and applications of ABO genotyping.

    Registration

    Registration includes access to both the live and on-demand version of this eCast.

    If you are a facility interested in participating in this eCast, simply complete the Group Viewing registration form and AABB will provide detailed instructions to share with your team approximately one week prior to the live program (each team member to register for the program utilizing a promocode). For single viewers, simply click on the Register button below to register.

    Please note: registration for the live eCast will close 1 hour prior to the eCast start time. If you register after this time you will receive access to the on-demand eCast when it is available.

    Single ViewerRegister
    Group ViewingRegister

    Continuing Education Credit

    This activity is eligible for one (1) continuing education credit/contact hour for Physicians, Nurses (including California-based nursing professionals through CBRN), California Lab Personnel, Florida Lab Personnel and General Participation credit. AABB reserves the right to reduce or increase the number of credits granted based on the final activity duration. For more information on each credit type please visit our Continuing Education Credits webpage.

    There is no financial support for this activity.

    Jointly Accredited Provider

    In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) and CME Outfitters, LLC. CME Outfitters LLC. 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 (ACCME): CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this live activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Claiming Credit
    Live Activity - Upon completion of the live activity, you will receive instructions to complete your evaluation, which is necessary to claim credit and receive your certificate of attendance/completion (credit must be claimed by the date provided in the instructions). The evaluation can be found by logging into the AABB Education Platform.

    Enduring Activity - Once the enduring (on-demand) program is available, you will receive instructions to access the AABB Education Platform. Upon completion of viewing the enduring activity, you will need to complete the evaluation, which is necessary to claim credit and receive your certificate of completion (credit must be claimed by the date provided in the AABB Education Platform).

    Program & Credit Expiration Dates:

    • Live Activity Program Date: August 21, 2024; Credit Expiration Date: September 21, 2024
    • Enduring Activity Program Dates: August 21, 2024 – August 20, 2027; Credit Expiration Date: August 20, 2027

    Disclosure Declaration

    It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their 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. CME Outfitters, LLC, 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 of this event can be found here. Disclosures for the program faculty, peer reviewers, and CME Outfitters, LLC. personnel are provided at the beginning of the program.

    Faculty Biographies

    Dr. Laura CoolingDr. Laura Cooling is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Medicine, followed by residency and transfusion medicine fellowship training at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She served 3 years as an assistant professor of pathology at SUNY Upstate, Syracuse New York. She has been at the University of Michigan since 2000 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Pathology. She is an Associate Director in Transfusion Medicine and Medical Director of the Cellular Therapy Processing Lab and Immunohematology Laboratory. She has served in several leadership roles in transfusion medicine, ASFA, ICII and AABB, including the Abstract Selection Committee, Education Committee and past-Chair of the Annual Meeting Committee. She has authored/co-authored nearly 300 chapters, articles and abstracts in the field of transfusion medicine.


    Lynsi RahorstLynsi Rahorst is the Manager of Education and Training for the IRL and Genomics laboratories for New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe). She has been active in the Heart of America Association of Blood Banks, has served on education-related committees for AABB, and is active in the AABB Spanish language section. Lynsi is passionate about educating and training the next generation of leaders in immunohematology and genomics, as well as supporting blood banking educational initiatives in Spanish-speaking countries.