YOU CAN DONATE IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE COVID-19 VACCINE. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. LOGIN HOST A BLOOD DRIVE FIND A BLOOD DRIVE GET INVOLVED Specialist in Blood Banking Certificate Program An online curriculum to propel your career and personal development. The LifeSouth Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) certificate program is an independent educational program offering training in all aspects of blood banking and transfusion medicine including: blood collection, product manufacturing, transfusion medicine practice, immunohematology, specialized laboratory testing, quality systems, process control, education, and management. The curriculum and rotations are designed to improve your knowledge and technical abilities, preparing you to advance your career and successfully pass the ASCP SBB accreditation exam. APPLY NOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM FAQS CURRICULUM CLINICAL ROTATIONS ADMISSIONS INFORMATION FORMS About the Program The comprehensive lectures and materials are provided by skilled faculty members and regularly reviewed for quality and accuracy. The program is designed to be completed remotely. Students may complete the required clinical experience and rotations through LifeSouth or at local, approved facilities. Students who successfully complete the LifeSouth SBB program with a grade average of at least 80% may be eligible for course credit in the University of Texas Medical Branch Master of Science in Transfusion Medicine program. Visit www.utmb.edu for more information. The LifeSouth program is provisionally accredited by CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Full accreditation is expected by Summer 2021. FAQs Who is eligible for this program? Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university including biology and chemistry courses. Three years of full-time clinical experience as a Medical Technologist in blood banking at a CLIA-accredited laboratory. These three years of experience must be acquired after the baccalaureate degree. Valid certification as Medical Technologist / CLS by a National accreditation body. What is the length of the program? Are there any requirements for clinical rotations? What is the criteria for completion and graduation? How much does the program cost? Is there a student handbook? How do I apply for the program? Curriculum Course No. Title Description CLLS 5160 Introduction to Research in Transfusion Medicine Research related materials for use with abstract assignment CLLS 5260 Blood Bank Laboratory Operations Lab operations, quality management, regulations, education, validation, Patient Blood Management CLLS 5261 Human Blood Groups I Immunology, genetics, ABO, Lewis, P, Ii, MNSs blood groups CLLS 5262 Human Blood Groups II Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lutheran, Knops, and miscellaneous blood groups, including high and low incidence antigens CLLS 5263 Advanced Immunohematology I Serological techniques, problem solving, pre-transfusion testing, rare donors, special transfusion situations, intraoperative salvage, blood administration, blood component therapy, transfusion reactions CLLS 5264 Advanced Immunohematology II Donor recruitment, collection, testing, processing, transfusion transmitted diseases CLLS 5360 Advanced Transfusion Medicine Principles Circulation, RBC/WBC/platelet disorders, anemias, abnormal hemoglobins, Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias, HLA system, transplantation, Graft vs Host Disease Clinical Rotations The clinical rotations add real world experience to the didactic lessons to solidify your understanding of the content. Apheresis Collections Blood product collections and therapeutic procedures performed with apheresis technology. Blood Product Distribution Movement of blood products throughout the distribution system. Coagulation Use of coagulation testing to diagnose patient conditions as well as determine the optimal blood product for transfusion. Component Manufacturing Production of blood products, component modification, product QC, and product testing methodologies. Donor Collection Donor eligibility, collection, and adverse reactions. Donor Testing Required tests and methodologies for ensuring blood is safe to transfuse. HLA/Histocompatibility Testing and use HLA data in transfusion medicine and transplantation. Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPCs) Donation, processing, storage, and use of HPCs. Intraoperative Salvage Techniques and procedures for blood salvage during surgery. Management Duties and strategies for supervision of employees in the laboratory. Medical Director Duties and functions of the Medical Director, and role in transfusion therapy decisions. Mobile Collections Collection of blood products outside of a blood center. Molecular Testing Isolation of DNA and use in transfusion medicine. Product Quality Control (optional) Testing and monitoring required for the production of blood products. Quality Assurance Functions of the Quality Assurance department and overview of the regulations surrounding blood banking. Recruitment Recruitment and retention of donors at the blood center. Reference Laboratory Advanced techniques in immunohematology. Admissions Information Application Deadline Applications for the 2021-2022 class are due April 30, 2021 Minimum Qualifications/Requirements National accreditation as a Medical Technologist in Immunohematology. External applicants: At least three years of full-time clinical experience in blood banking in an accredited laboratory within the last five years. These three years of experience must have been acquired after completion of a baccalaureate degree. Internal applicants: At least two years of full-time clinical experience in LifeSouth’s IRL laboratory within the last five years. These two years of experience must have been acquired after completion of a baccalaureate degree. Applicants must submit the following: LifeSouth SBB Program Application Two professional letters of recommendation. Copy of all undergraduate and graduate college transcripts and MT/MLS training (if applicable). College transcripts submitted for initial review may be unofficial copies or photocopies when possible. You must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree. Current CV or resume listing all previous experience and education. Personal Statement (1-2 pages) including discussion of: Career goals Professional strengths Experiences or qualities that will help the applicant succeed in a distance learning program How this program will affect your professional life List of any honors, awards, and activities that may be applicable (such as organization memberships, publications, and presentations at seminars or meetings SBB Applicant Experience Documentation form. Agreement for SBB Student Mentoring form with mentor’s CV or resume showing experience and education. Facility Information form to show where you currently work and/or plan to gain clinical experiences. Facility’s Memo of Understanding to indicate that your facility will support your SBB training. Proof of eligibility to work in the US. Student Selection Criteria LifeSouth provides equal opportunity to all persons, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, transgender status, gender identification, disability, status as a protected veteran, national origin, color or any other classification in accordance with federal, state and local statues, regulations and ordinances. Evaluation Process The admissions process is designed to consider all aspects of an applicant’s academic record and personal experiences. The admissions review process tries to balance the subjective and objective components of the application. Admission officers can exercise flexibility and professional judgment in their reviews and decisions, but they also must apply consistent standards. Every evaluation retains a focus on academic achievement and the applicant’s overall potential for success during and after completion of the program. Forms SBB Experience Documentation Form Agreement for SBB Student Mentoring Form Facility Information Form Facility Memo of Understanding 4039 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 888-795-2707 beau@lifesouth.org Privacy Policy Sitemap Careers Current Employees Blog Request Donor ID Card Contact Us Back To Top ©2021 LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. All rights reserved. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All Cookies