Northern California Community Blood Bank

Northern California Community Blood Bank Earns AABB Accreditation

The Northern California Community Blood Bank has again been granted accreditation by AABB according to Thomas Schallert, Administrator.

Accreditation follows an intensive on-site assessment by specially trained AABB assessors and establishes that the level of medical, technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by AABB. By again successfully meeting those requirements, Northern California Community Blood Bank continues as one of approximately 1,700 similar facilities across the United States and abroad that have earned AABB Accreditation.

"The AABB's Accreditation procedures are voluntary," Schallert explained. "Northern California Community Blood Bank has sought AABB Accreditation because this program assists facilities around the country in achieving excellence by promoting a level of professional and medical expertise that contributes to quality performance." The blood bank first joined AABB in 1961 and has maintained its accreditation for over 40 years.

Since 1958, AABB has been engaged in the accreditation of blood banks and transfusion services. Today, its Accreditation Program assists blood banks, transfusion services, cellular therapy facilities, parentage testing laboratories, immunohematology reference laboratories and perioperative services in determining whether methods, procedures, personnel knowledge, equipment and the physical plant meet established requirements. These standards not only reflect the level of professional proficiency for blood banks and transfusion services in the United States, but also provide the basis for practice in similar facilities around the world.

AABB Accreditation is the designation of choice for blood banking, transfusion medicine, blood management and cellular therapies because it demonstrates an organization's commitment to advanced learning, continuous improvement and innovation by striving to sustain the highest level of patient and donor care. AABB accredited organizations are recognized by their peers as leaders in their field and as pivotal voices in the dialogue through which consensus-based, voluntary standards are developed and implemented.

AABB is an international non-profit membership organization dedicated to advancing the field of transfusion medicine and related biological therapies. AABB sets standards, accredits facilities, publishes books and publications and produces educational programs to improve patient and donor safety.

AABB serves 1,800 institutions and 8,000 individual members, including physicians, scientists, administrators, medical technologists, nurses, researchers, blood donor recruiters and public relations personnel.

The Northern California Community Blood Bank staff , volunteers and Board of Directors, are proud of their success in again achieving accreditation with AABB.