People in blood bank jobs perform the vital role of screening blood from donors to ensure it's safe to transfuse into other patients. Anyone interested in becoming a blood bank technician (sometimes called an "immunohematology technologist,") should be comfortable working around people and bodily fluids. Familiarity with medical equipment and safety procedures is critical for success at a blood bank.
Working in a blood bank, around and with blood, can increase a technician's exposure to blood-borne disease, which is why safety precautions are so important in this environment. In addition to manual dexterity and the ability to handle working around blood, blood bank jobs require the ability to follow all safety procedures and guidelines to the letter. Not only does this protect the blood bank technician, it can also minimize the potential for contamination of blood and samples.
Blood bank jobs typically involve:
While a blood bank may only accept donations during normal business hours, employees in blood bank jobs may perform other duties during evenings, weekends and holidays to accommodate emergency procedures.
If you want to become a blood bank technician, a bachelor's of science degree from an accredited college or university will start you on the right path. Degree specialties for blood bank jobs can include:
After graduation, a blood bank technician can expand her knowledge base by completing a specialized certification or graduate program that explores more advanced concepts in blood bank technology. In the U.S., the Specialist in Blood Bank Technology certification is available through the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
After gaining sufficient experience working in entry-level blood bank jobs, a blood bank technician can advance to:
The average blood bank technician can expect an annual salary of $40,000 to $56,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2011).