A blood bank technology specialist collects and analyzes donated blood to ensure it is safe for transfusion. They use laboratory tools and testing techniques to determine blood type and components, and store quality blood for use in transfusions. A bachelor’s degree in medical technology and certification is required, and they typically work in hospitals or community donation centers.
A blood bank technology specialist is a scientist who collects and analyzes donated blood for use in transfusions. He or she is responsible for ensuring that blood donations are of high quality, disease-free, and safe for transfusion in certain patients. A specialist in blood bank technology uses a number of complicated laboratory tools and testing techniques to determine the components and type of a blood sample. Many specialists assist doctors in actual blood transfusion procedures.
Donors must be carefully interviewed and screened before they can donate blood. A specialist in blood bank technology usually performs these initial tests and, when donors are deemed suitable, draws certain amounts of blood. The specialist analyzes a sample to confirm the blood type and ensure that it is not contaminated. Quality blood is labeled and carefully stored for use in transfusions. In some cases, a specialist may perform tests on the patient who needs the transfusion to ensure that their system is compatible and responsive to new blood.
Blood bank technology specialists use sophisticated laboratory equipment and computer technology to analyze blood. They can use microscopes and cell counters, for example, to determine the exact components of a sample. In some clinics, specialists are required to separate the blood into its components, such as plasma, red blood cells and white blood cells. Specialists usually store data about blood samples on computer systems.
To work as a blood bank technology specialist, a person typically must earn at least a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from a four-year college or university, although many specialists choose to pursue a master’s degree. In addition, a new specialist must complete one to two years of formal paid training at a hospital or clinic and pass a certification test. Interns typically work as assistants to experienced specialists, helping them collect samples and learning about different laboratory techniques. In the United States, certification as a specialist in blood bank technology is offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Most countries have ASCP-like organizations that administer certification exams for new specialists.
Most blood bank technology specialists work in hospitals and community donation centers. Some specialists work in independent, private laboratories, researching new and unknown blood disorders. In addition, experienced specialists often find employment in research and development laboratories at institutions that manufacture new equipment for blood banks. Those with advanced degrees may choose to work at universities, teaching medical technology courses and supervising laboratory research work.
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