AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies) is an international, not-for-profit organization representing individuals and institutions involved in the field of transfusion medicine and biotherapies.
The association works collaboratively to advance the field through the development and delivery of standards, accreditation and education programs. AABB is dedicated to its mission of improving lives by making transfusion medicine and biotherapies safe, available and effective worldwide.
The association was founded in the United States in 1947 as the American Association of Blood Banks.
In 2021, it changed its name to Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies to better reflect its mission and work.
Virtually all
blood banks in the United States are accredited by AABB. In addition, AABB accredits hospital transfusion services, biotherapies facilities, cord blood banks, relationship testing facilities, and various other facilities whose work relates to blood and biotherapies.
Accreditation by AABB meets the requirements of the
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 are United States federal regulatory standards that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States, except clinical trials and basic research.
CLIA P ...
(CLIA) for blood bank, transfusion service, and immunohematology reference laboratory operations.
AABB hosts an annual meeting every fall for the dissemination of research and information for the blood and biotherapies field. The association publishes a monthly magazine, a weekly newsletter, and a peer-reviewed
research journal titled ''
Transfusion''. AABB publishes a variety of other materials for the blood and biotherapies field, including the standards by which it accredits institutions.
Since 1953, the organization has also operated a National Blood Exchange to facilitate transfers of blood products during shortages or when rare
blood type
A blood type (also known as a blood group) is based on the presence and absence of antibody, antibodies and Heredity, inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycop ...
s are required.
On June 1, 2018, Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE, became the association's chief executive officer (CEO).
References
External links
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Organizations established in 1947
Blood banks in the United States
1947 establishments in the United States