Historic Milestone: Hamad Medical Corporation Achieves AABB Accreditation Across Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) has successfully achieved AABB accreditation for all its facilities in Qatar. The DLMP operates Qatar Blood Services, the sole health organization responsible for providing life-saving blood products and services throughout all of Qatar, including all governmental and private health institutes. This historic milestone makes Qatar one of the few countries in the world in which all blood services are fully accredited by AABB.   

In a press release, DLMP Chairperson Einas Al Kuwari, MD, said the accreditation was a remarkable achievement, as the department was assessed for 431 main standards and assessors identified no deficiencies. AABB accreditation is internationally recognized as a symbol of quality. AABB's standards combine the field’s leading quality management system essentials with technical requirements designed to ensure optimal quality and safety for donors, patients and staff.

AABB is proud to partner with Qatar to ensure the highest level of quality and safety for all donors and patients in the country. AABB News checked in with Hamad Medical Corporation and discussed the significant milestone for the organization below.

What does it mean for Qatar’s blood supply to be 100% AABB-accredited, and how significant is this milestone for Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar’s health care system?

To be AABB-accredited means that we are following rigorous standards for maintaining quality and safety in blood collection, processing and distribution. This milestone is significant for Hamad Medical Corporation because it recognizes Qatar as a leader in health care locally and internationally. Overall, it means a commitment to excellence in health care and a vision for further achievements.

How does AABB accreditation strengthen patient safety standards within Qatar’s blood transfusion services and improve treatment outcomes in Qatar?

AABB accreditation strengthens transfusion safety by enforcing rigorous standards, reducing errors and promoting best practices—leading to better patient outcomes, fewer complications and higher confidence among staff, donors and patients.

What steps were involved in achieving full AABB accreditation across all of Qatar’s blood services?

1. AABB standards were reviewed and analyzed to identify any gaps.
2. AABB experts were invited to visit the facility for evaluation and direction.
3. AABB cluster team was formed to implement changes needed to close out gaps identified in some practices.
4. Applying for AABB accreditation.
5. The AABB cluster team reviewed all policies, procedures, processes and forms.
6. An internal inspection was conducted before AABB’s visit to ensure implementation of all standards was complete.

How long did the accreditation process take, and what were some of the challenges encountered?

Preparation for the accreditation took roughly one year and a half.

Challenges encountered included understanding some of the standard and its requirements. However, the “Guidance to Standards” was very helpful. Other challenges included maintaining the platelet count in the apheresis unit to ≥3.0 x 10¹¹.

Can you give an example of how these standards affect daily practices, such as transfusion protocols or donor screening?

AABB standards have a direct, measurable impact on daily practices. Its requirements turn evidence into enforceable daily practices, making transfusions safer and more effective.

In what ways has the AABB accreditation process improved the safety of the blood supply?

AABB accreditation systematically enhances blood supply safety through a multi-layered, prevention-focused framework that addresses risks to donors or recipients. It also keeps the end user updated with information about the latest testing criteria and potential emerging transfusion-transmitted diseases.

What kind of training or operational changes were necessary to meet AABB criteria?

Changes included creating new forms to documents certain processes, changes to the Trima apheresis machine to increase the platelet counts, improving documentation of all processes and conducting multiple audits to different aspects of the daily transfusion medicine workflow.

How does Qatar’s achievement compare with blood supply systems in the Middle East or globally?

Attaining AABB accreditation grants us recognition on an international scale.

Now that the accreditation is in place, what’s next for HMC’s transfusion and hematology services?

Maintaining accreditation standards, as well as implementing quality improvement projects and new projects, such as frozen packed red cells.