CLINICAL PATHOLOGY CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS
BLOOD BANKING/TRANSFUSION MEDICINE

I.Component Collection, including complications
  
II.Serologic and Infectious Disease Testing of Donor Units
 Tests routinely performed
  
III.Preparation, Storage, and Release of Blood Components and Derivatives
 Storage lesions of components
  
IV.Compatibility Testing of Red Cells and Components
 Accurate patient identification
 Use of automated equipment for pre-transfusion testing
 Serologic confirmation of donor blood ABO/Rh
 Pre-transfusion testing of patient blood
 Selection of compatible blood and components for transfusion
 Crossmatch
 Special considerations for neonates
 Selection of compatible blood and components in special circumstances
 Urgent requirements for blood and components
  
V.Indications for Use and Administration of Components and Derivatives, (including RBCs, platelets, plasma, factor concentrates)
 Leukocyte-reduction benefits
 Indications for irradiated components
 Indications for blood warmers
 Indications for filters
 Compatible fluids
  
VI.Special Transfusion Situations
 ADAMTS-13 and TTP
 Criteria for administration of Rh immune globulin
 Massive transfusion
 Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia purpura
  
VII.Therapeutic Apheresis and Phlebotomy
 Established indications
 American Society for Apheresis Guidelines
  
VIII.Diagnosis and Management of Non-Infectious Complications of Transfusion
 TRALI—etiology, clinical signs and symptoms
 TACO
 Allergic transfusion reactions
 Basic evaluation and differential diagnosis of fever, hypotension, dyspnea and/or other signs and symptoms during a blood component transfusion.
 When to stop a transfusion and when it is safe to continue
  
IX.Transfusion Transmitted Infectious Disease
 Limiting and detecting bacterial contamination in platelets
 Current risks in the United States of transmission of:
     HIV, HBV, and HCV
 Other infectious complications of transfusion (e.g. West Nile Virus, Chagas disease, HTLV, CMV, bacteria)
  
X.Management
 Updates to AABB Standards
 Updates to FDA Guidance and Regulations
 Transfusion committee composition and responsibilities
  
  References

This page was last modified on February 13, 2008.