This is a one year distance learning program in advanced Blood Bank Technology. The Florida Blood Services' (FBS) SBB
Certification Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon
the recommendation of the American Association of Blood Banks’ Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood Bank
Technology Schools (AABB/CoA).
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-210-2350
http://www.caahep.org/
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Upon successful completion of the program, the student applies to the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to sit
for the national examination to obtain SBB certification. This is a certificate based program, no college credit is given.
SBB Career Opportunities
The Specialist in Blood Bank (SBB) plays a unique role in the modern blood bank and transfusion service. Skilled in all
blood bank operations, the SBB may follow virtually any career path within the profession. They assume positions including
technical directors, laboratory supervisors and managers, and positions in education, quality assurance and research.
Educational Requirements of Program
The applicant must have either:
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A baccalaureate degree and 2 years clinical blood bank or transfusion service experience or
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An MT(ASCP) certification with a baccalaureate degree and 1 year clinical blood bank or transfusion service experience.
Program Information
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Application Deadline:
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October 1
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Fees:
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$3,000. Fees are nonrefundable. One half of amount is due
by January 31st. The remainder is due first day of class.
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Duration:
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12 months
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Start Date:
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March
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Positions Accepted:
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5 (approximate)
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On-site Visits Required:
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3 sessions (total 11 days)
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Passing Rate for Registry Exam:
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96%
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On-site visits to FBS
Students must come to Florida Blood Services in St. Petersburg three times during the school year. The student is responsible
for all costs incurred. This includes hotel, food and transportation. The first visit is the first week of class. This is
an opportunity to discuss the program and its requirements, learn how to download lectures, practice test taking, and receive
lectures from FBS staff. It provides a chance to meet each other and bond as a class. The second visit is in the fall for a
week. Two days are spent at LifeLink Transplantation Immunology Laboratory in Tampa learning HLA. Two days of the week are
spent in management lectures from our staff. One day is reserved for rotations not available at home locations. The last
visit is for graduation. It corresponds with the first day of the next SBB class. This is a time for the old students to
meet the new and impart any wisdom they have learned.
Description of Program
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This program provides training in all areas of blood banking including basic and advanced serological techniques,
blood donation and product manufacturing, apheresis, viral disease testing, genetics, transfusion medicine practices,
component therapy, quality systems and process control, HLA and transplantation, education and research, management,
blood bank administration and other relevant topics.
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Most lectures and all tests are presented on line. There are 12 exams, a midterm and final. Students have a two week
window in which to take the tests. They must have access to a high speed internet connection for test taking.
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Rotations - These take place in a transfusion service, blood center and reference lab. There are 12 rotations to be
performed:
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Transfusion Service- Compatibility testing, Management, Medical Director
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Blood Center- Donor Room, Apheresis, Mobile Drive, QA, Donor blood testing (includes EIA and NAT), Component
Preparation
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Reference Lab
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HPC and HLA performed during visits to FBS
The amount of time varies dependent on the student’s previous experience. Clinical experience will be documented on
checklists completed by supervisors at the various sites. It is the student’s responsibility to attain agreement with
the necessary sites. It is also the student’s responsibility to retain a mentor (must be SBB or Medical Director) who
will help answer questions and act as a liaison with the Education Coordinator.
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A research or evaluation project is required of each student.
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Unknowns will be sent at midterm for antibody identification.
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Case history problems will be emailed throughout the year.
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A PowerPoint presentation will be developed and performed by each student at the student’s institution for continuing
education purposes.
To Apply
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Contact the Education Coordinator by email or phone. Contact information below. This step is to insure that the candidate
has the necessary qualifications for the program.
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Download and complete the application from our website.
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Obtain all undergraduate and post graduate college transcripts. Photocopies are acceptable if completely legible. Remember
to copy front and back of forms. Foreign education credentials need to be evaluated prior to acceptance in the program.
Transcripts should be submitted to: International Education Research Foundation, PO Box 24679, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
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Mail completed application and transcripts to Education Coordinator at address below.
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Qualified applicants will be scheduled for a 10 minute telephone interview with the SBB Committee.
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Applicants will be notified in December if they are accepted into the program.
Admissions Process
It is the policy of Florida Blood Services not to discriminate and to provide equal opportunity for admissions to all qualified
individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Admission is based on a 100 point system. Initially, points are assigned for the application (15), references (15), experience
(20), and college transcripts- GPA (25). The 10-12 candidates with the highest number of points will participate in a 10 minute
telephone interview (25) with the SBB Advisory Committee (12 members, most are SBBs). The five applicants with the highest score
will comprise the next student class.
Withdrawal Process
Students are expected to maintain an average of 75% on exams. If after three exams, the average is less than 75%, the student is
placed on probation. If after five exams or anytime thereafter the average is less than 75%, the student may be withdrawn from
the program.
Students are expected to meet deadlines for checklists, research project, PowerPoint presentation and other material as assigned.
There are three deadlines posted during the year. If the material due is not submitted by these dates, the student will be released
from the program.
Once a student voluntarily or involuntarily withdraws, s/he may apply for enrollment in a future program but s/he must go through
the application process the same as any first time student. No tuition is refunded.
Before a student is withdrawn from the program, s/he may appeal in writing to the SBB Advisory Committee.
Need to Know
This is a TOUGH course. You need to be a self-starter and very disciplined. You should expect
to spend at least two hours a day studying and at least half of your weekend. Be ready to devote a year of your life to attain those
SBB letters behind your name. There is a great deal of information to cover and much of it is not learned on the bench. Students are
encouraged to stay in touch after our week together, to share ideas and offer support. Being an online program does not mean you are
in this alone. Classes where students have become one cohesive study group have fared very well and remained close years later. This
is a team effort.
Save your vacation time. You must have sufficient time accrued or be willing to work different hours to have the time necessary to complete
the rotations. Allow at least 15-20 days (depending on previous experience). Allow 11 days for the instruction at FBS. And plan your
expenses appropriately. Each year we consider cutting back to two visits but students convince us that three are needed, for the knowledge
as well as the camaraderie.
This is an intense and academically challenging course that demands significant time and effort. This program is not only about education
but also accountability and time management. You must be a master at managing your time – at work, at home and in this program. You must
meet deadlines. We have high expectations of our students and we take great pride in our graduates. If you think you have the required
drive and dedication, this experience will provide an excellent opportunity for you to grow and be able to bring the leadership and
knowledge home to those in your workplace.
For further information contact:
Marjorie W. Doty, MT (ASCP) SBB
Education Coordinator
Transfusion Medicine Academic Center Manager
Florida Blood Services
10100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Phone: (727) 568-5433 Ext. 1514
Fax: (727) 568-1177
Email: mdoty@fbsblood.org
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