The AABB Accreditation program promotes optimal standards of care for both patients and donors in all aspects of blood banking, transfusion medicine, relationship testing, hematopoietic, cord blood and other cellular therapies. In June 1995, May 2008, and most recently in May 2014, AABB was granted “deemed status” as an accrediting organization under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). Most recently, the accreditation program is accredited by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua).
Good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations, good tissue practice (cGTP) regulations, CLIA ’88 requirements, increased regulations from the FDA for unlicensed blood establishments and transfusion services, the introduction of Quality Management systems, competition within the blood banking profession, advances in the cellular therapy arena, and increased pressure to improve safety with limited resources have changed the way the blood banking and cellular therapy communities conduct business. Conducting business in a quality framework is no longer an option, but a must. Ensuring that all systems are working efficiently and in compliance with AABB Standards and federal regulations is the foundation of any successful operation.
The goal of accreditation is to verify compliance with applicable AABB Standards and federal regulatory requirements and to assist in improving the quality of services provided. Verification of compliance is accomplished by peer review assessments performed in a competent and reliable manner.