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Updated Quality Systems Essentials

AABB's Quality Systems Essentials are the framework on which all AABB Standards are developed and enhanced.

Quality: A Pillar of AABB

Quality has been an essential pillar of AABB since the association's beginning. In fact, advancing quality in the field was a basis for the creation of AABB. When AABB began its Standards Program in 1958, quality concepts were the basis for the program's development. Since then, AABB's Standards have evolved from a system of safety and accuracy checks into a quality system that serve as the keystone to the work of transfusion medicine professionals throughout the world.

In 1997, with the release of Association Bulletin #97-04, AABB announced the launch of the AABB Quality Systems Essentials, comprising 10 elements designed to advance quality; all AABB-accredited facilities are now required to implement these elements.

Updated Quality Systems Essentials

In 2023, AABB developed the updated Quality Systems Essentials, the next step in the evolution of quality for the blood and biotherapies field, as well as a continuation of AABB's efforts to ensure the highest level of quality and safety for all donors and patients. The updated Quality Systems Essentials incorporated the latest best practices in quality and are designed to advance the highest level of quality and safety. To develop this updated system, AABB sought input from quality experts both within, and outside of, the AABB community. In addition, AABB conducted three separate targeted reviews on language and flow. Finally, the updates were reviewed and approved by the AABB Standards and Accreditation Program Committees and by the AABB Board of Directors.

Today, all AABB Standards are based on the updated Quality Systems Essentials. This system includes the following key features:

  • All standards are written in the active voice.
  • Once a requirement has been stated, it is not repeated.
  • Each chapter begins with a description of what the standards therein cover.
  • Each chapter contains a list of key terms that relate to the content of the chapter, with their definitions.
  • Each chapter contains a list of examples of objective evidence that an assessor could look for during an on-site assessment; however, this list is not comprehensive, nor will it be assessed against by an assessor. It is merely for guidance purposes only.
  • Each chapter now concludes with the record retention table for that chapter. Note that a comprehensive record retention table still exists at the end of Chapter 6.