Curriculum & Calendar

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The SBB student will have the opportunity to obtain and apply the following knowledge and skills:

Theoretical cognitive aspects of blood banking, transfusion medicine, and cellular therapy principles obtained through lecture objectives and/or practicum rotation objectives,

Psychomotor skills through rotation checklists, lab assignments, and/or teaching assignments.

Affective skills through didactic and clinical training in lab operations, teamwork, lab management, and/or professional development.

CALENDAR

MID-AUGUST

Mandatory 5 day in-person orientation

Orientation to program
Clinical rotations in Collections, Apheresis, Management, & Quality Assurance

August – October

Module 1: Laboratory Operations

Principles of lab management, education, quality management, human resource management, and laboratory quality systems

October – December

Module 2: Human Blood Groups I

Immunology, genetics, biochemical and molecular basis for human blood groups; ABO, Lewis, and secretor studies; importance of blood group antigens/antibodies in transfusion therapy.

December – February

Module 3: Human Blood Groups II

Application of genetics, biochemistry, and molecular basis for Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lutheran, Knops, and other blood groups.

February – April

Module 4: Advanced Immunohematology I

Pretransfusion testing strategies and procedures; rare blood products and special patient situations; intraoperative blood salvage, component therapy, blood administration and patient blood management.

April – June

Module 5: Advanced Immunohematology II

Blood donor recruitment, blood collection, processing and quality control, distribution. Transfusion transmitted disease testing principles, methods, and monitoring.

June – August

Module 6: Advanced Transfusion Medicine Principles

Hemostasis, physiology and disorders of the hematopoetic system; hemolytic anemias and hemolytic disease of the newborn and fetus; immunodeficiency disorders and treatment; platelet and histocompatibility antigens; GVHD.

3rd Friday in August

GRADUATION

CLINICAL ROTATIONS

There are 16 clinical rotations that must be completed in order to graduate from the program. Clinical rotations are an important part of the SBB experience and are designed to familiarize students with all aspects of transfusion medicine and blood center operations. It is rarely possible to complete all rotations in one location, and the student, with the help of their mentor and ABEL faculty, are responsible for locating and scheduling the rotations to meet their needs.

Virtual clinical rotations may be available through the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Web-Based User Group affiliation. Permission to complete a virtual rotation may be granted by the Program Director on a case-by-case basis.

Many of the rotations are observational only and can be completed within a relatively short time. Up to 5 rotations may be completed during the weeklong orientation at Blood Assurance, Inc. blood center in Chattanooga, TN if time allows.

The Immunohematology Reference Lab (IRL) and Transfusion Services rotations will require approximately 20 – 40 hours each to complete and include required hands-on activities. ABEL considers these 2 rotations to be of primary importance for the SBB student experience. At the discretion of the Program Director, students currently working full time in a hospital transfusion service or IRL may request and be given credit for some checklist activities based on experience.