Blood banks in the United States collect, process, and distribute blood to those who need it because of a disease, blood loss from an accident or some other condition. Blood is a complex tissue, so blood bankers need to process it with care and expertise.

Blood Bank

The blood bank is composed of people who collect and process blood for use in medical settings. Equipment used includes needles and syringes to collect the blood, bags to store it, machines to process it and refrigerators to keep it fresh.

Blood Components

Blood is a very complex substance made up of different cells, proteins, chemicals and liquids. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight disease, platelets and clotting factors stop bleeding, plasma gives blood volume and protein serves as a nutrient.

Immunohematologists

Immunohematologists are scientific experts in determining what blood types are compatible with others. Type A blood can only be given to people with type A. Type B blood can only be given to people with type B. Type O blood can be given to anyone. There are other compatibilities, and immunohematologists do the work of matching them up.

Support Staff

Support staff in the blood bank include phlebotomists who collect the blood from donors, clerical staff that keep track of blood going in and products going out and maintenance staff that keeps the machines running.

Becoming a Blood Banker

Blood bankers are generally laboratory professionals since many of the blood banks are parts of greater clinical laboratories. A degree in laboratory medicine takes between six months and four years depending on the complexity and level of the degree.

Source:

American Association of Blood Banks

Blood Types

Blood and Blood Products