Georgian Blood Banking Leaders Visit AABB to Advance Voluntary Donation Efforts

AABB recently welcomed a delegation from the country of Georgia to its Bethesda, Md., office to exchange information on blood donation, manufacturing and transfusion medicine in support of the country’s efforts to transition to a volunteer-based blood donation system.

Sharon Carayiannis, MT(ASCP)HP, vice president of science and practice; and Leah Mendelsohn Stone, JD, vice president of public policy and advocacy, met with leaders from the Batumi Blood Bank, Hematology and Transfusiology Institute, Natalia Kvantaliani Central Blood Bank, National Blood Bank and Georgia Military Hospital. They discussed quality system essentials and shared information to support a safe, available blood supply that meets patients’ needs.  

The visit was part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and was arranged by American Councils for International Education. While in the United States, the delegation also toured several AABB-accredited blood banks and transfusion medicine services to learn more about operational models and donor engagement approaches.