Blood Bank Technology Specialist

Blood Bank Technology Specialists work in the laboratory to test blood samples, including both routinely collected and donated blood, on a variety of panels to promote patient safety.

Summary

Blood Bank Technology Specialists help ensure that blood products are properly typed and labeled and free of disease. These individuals are experts on variety of subjects including regulatory and quality systems, genetics, immunology, blood groups, collection and storage of blood and components, donor processing, immune mechanisms, component therapy, transfusion of the newborn, complications of transfusion, general administration, personnel administration, education and automated data processing.

Specialists in Blood Banking serve in many roles within the transfusion medicine field such as regulatory experts, technical/procedural advisors, laboratory administrators, quality assessors and managers, educators within their field for technical and scientific training in blood transfusion medicine and researchers in transfusion medicine.

Educational Requirements

To become a blood bank technology specialist, you must complete a four-year college degree with a major in biology, microbiology, or another biological or physical science.

After college, enroll in an accredited, one-year specialized training program or pursue a master’s degree in blood bank technology, also known as immunohematology. You will study serological techniques and apheresis, which is the process of collecting blood and separating it into blood products. You’ll learn how to test blood for antigens and viral diseases, and discover why some patients have adverse reactions to blood transfusions.

There are also master's level programs in this field. Explore accredited certificate and master's programs.

Salary Information 2023

According to salary.com, the average salary for a blood bank technology specialist in 2023 was $76,381.

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Information retrieved from Explore Health Careers.org.