Specialist in Blood Bank Technology and Transfusion Medicine Program

This year-long, graduate level hybrid (part self-study; part virtual/on-site learning) program incorporates all aspects of blood center and clinical services operations in a curriculum designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for the student to arrive at solutions to a wide variety of complex transfusion-related problems and challenges. Hospital transfusion services and other departmental rotations are included in the program that allow for observation of advanced practices, such as, but not limited to, HLA testing, transplantation medicine, stem cell processing, lab operations, and molecular testing.

The American Red Cross Specialist in Blood Bank Technology and Transfusion Medicine Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine (CoA-SBBT)

• CAAHEP – 9355 113^th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, (727) 210-2350, www.caahep.org
• AABB - 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 700, North Tower, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 907-6977  www.aabb.org
• The program includes guided self-study, on-line didactics, professional development tasks, clerical/administration/technical rotations, and a student designed and executed research project that can be completed at the student’s location.
  
• A certificate is awarded to graduates of the program. Graduates are immediately eligible to take the Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) examination offered by ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) in order to obtain SBB professional certification.
  
• The program does not allow advanced placement, transfer credit, or credits for experiential learning. Upon completion graduates are awarded a certificate. Academic credits are not awarded, however graduate credits (6) from this SBB Program may be applied to the Transfusion Medicine Masters (TRM-MS) degree program at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (program is online, with an on-campus Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory in the Spring of the 2nd year).  
• Successful completion of an SBB/TM program and subsequent ASCP SBB certification exam will enable an individual to pursue many career paths, such as working in a hospital transfusion service or QA department, immunohematology reference laboratory (IRL), blood center, governmental agency, or other health care related industry. Depending on the SBB certified employee’s interest and skills, roles in administration, management/supervision, clinical research, and teaching are all possible. 
  
• Current American Red Cross employees and staff from selected official academic partners will be considered for admission. The program is offered to American Red Cross and academic partner employees at no cost, provided employer commitment requirements are met.  
• Students are solely responsible for all travel and ancillary expenses and associated with completing program requirements.

SBB Program Outcomes

• ASCP SBB certification exam:
  • 3-year (2020-2022) 1st time pass rate = 82% (9/11 graduates)
    
  • 5-year (2018-2022) 1st time pass rate = 82% (9/11 graduates)*
    
    • *Includes transition year when we had no students.
  • Total attempts pass rate (2006-2022) 89% = (25/28 graduates)
    

Application Process

Applications being accepted March 1st – June 1st 2023

• Admission requirements
• Application checklist