Technologist in Blood Banking - BB

Obtain certification and advance your career in blood banking with our specialized credential.

Performs routine and specialized tests in blood banking and transfusion services to determine blood types, identify antibodies, and prepare and select blood components to support providers in blood transfusion therapy.

ASCP and ASCPi Pathways

Attaining an American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) credential requires a laboratory professional or other expert to meet specific education, training, and/or experience standards and to successfully pass an examination demonstrating knowledge and applied skills. The ASCP BOC offers ASCP and ASCPi credentials based on distinct eligibility requirements. All candidates must carefully compare credentialing options. Additional information is available about the similarities and differences between similarities and differences between ASCP and ASCPi credentials and ASCPi credentials.

Eligibility Routes

Each credential has specific eligibility requirements, which are different for ASCP and ASCPi. It’s your responsibility to confirm that your education, training, and/or experience meet the criteria. Submit the correct documentation with your application. Once submitted, the category and route of application cannot be changed.

Check Your Eligibility
tooltip info icon

Help Me Decide

Trying to decide between ASCP and ASCPi?

Technologist in Blood Banking – BB(ASCP)

An applicant must be able to verify that they meet all eligibility requirements, including education, training, and/or experience. For complete information, see the Documentation section of the website. 

Education does not need to be from the United States. Details are available by reviewing the webpage titled Acceptable Education, also available in the routes below. 

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the minimum requirements (for degrees, the stated degree or higher) of at least one of the following routes:

An applicant must be able to verify that they meet all eligibility requirements, including education, training, and/or experience. For complete information, see the  Documentation section of the website. 

Education needs to be equivalent to education from the United States. Details are available by reviewing the webpage titled  Acceptable Education, also available in the routes below. 

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the minimum requirements (for degrees, the stated degree or higher) of at least one of the following routes: 


  • *Acceptable Clinical Laboratory:
    CMS CLIA certificate of registration, compliance, accreditation;
    OR DoD CLIP certificate of registration, compliance, accreditation;
    OR JCI accreditation;
    OR Accreditation under ISO 15189.

    Experience 

    To fulfill the experience requirement for the Technologist in Blood Banking examination, you must have clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years in  ALL of the following procedures: 

    Serologic and/or Molecular Testing 

    • ABO grouping and Rh typing 
    • Antibody detection and identification 
    • Crossmatching 
    • Direct antiglobulin tests 
    • Tests for other blood group antigens 

    Routine Problem Solving 

    • Transfusion adverse reactions 
    • Immune hemolytic anemias 
    • Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Rh immune globulin studies (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Indications for transfusion 

    Quality Control/Assurance 

    • Reagents, equipment 

    Laboratory Operations 

    Donor Collection, Processing, and Testing

    Competency for these tasks may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation 

    • Donor selection, preparation, and collection 
    • Processing and donor testing 
    • Component preparation for storage and administration 
    • Baccalaureate degree from an  accredited (regionally or nationally) college/university with a major in biological science or chemistry, OR a baccalaureate degree from an  accredited (regionally or nationally) college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in biology and chemistry, which may be obtained within, or in addition to, the baccalaureate degree,
    • AND successful completion of a structured program in blood banking under the auspices of a  NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Scientist program within the last 5 years that must be documented on this Structured Program Documentation Form.

      The structured program in blood banking must be equivalent to the curriculum for blood banking in the Medical Laboratory Scientist program.

      Applicants should not apply until after successful completion of the structured program.

  • *Acceptable Clinical Laboratory:
    CMS CLIA certificate of registration, compliance, accreditation;
    OR DoD CLIP certificate of registration, compliance, accreditation;
    OR JCI accreditation;
    OR Accreditation under ISO 15189.

    Experience 

    To fulfill the experience requirement for the Technologist in Blood Banking examination, you must have clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years in  ALL of the following procedures: 

    Serologic and/or Molecular Testing 

    • ABO grouping and Rh typing 
    • Antibody detection and identification 
    • Crossmatching 
    • Direct antiglobulin tests 
    • Tests for other blood group antigens 

    Routine Problem Solving 

    • Transfusion adverse reactions 
    • Immune hemolytic anemias 
    • Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Rh immune globulin studies (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Indications for transfusion 

    Quality Control/Assurance 

    • Reagents, equipment 

    Laboratory Operations 

    Donor Collection, Processing, and Testing

    Competency for these tasks may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation 

    • Donor selection, preparation, and collection 
    • Processing and donor testing 
    • Component preparation for storage and administration 
  • The education received from a NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Scientist program is acceptable for a period of 5 years from the date of completion of that program. 


  • *Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by an acceptable transcript evaluation. The foreign degree must be equivalent to a U.S. degree.


  • *Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by an acceptable transcript evaluation. The foreign degree must be equivalent to a U.S. degree.

    #Clinical laboratory accredited by JCI, CAP, under ISO 15189 or authorized by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation must have laboratories approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification.

    Experience 

    To fulfill the experience requirement for the Technologist in Blood Banking examination, you must have clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years in  ALL of the following procedures: 

    Serologic and/or Molecular Testing 

    • ABO grouping and Rh typing 
    • Antibody detection and identification 
    • Crossmatching 
    • Direct antiglobulin tests 
    • Tests for other blood group antigens 

    Routine Problem Solving 

    • Transfusion adverse reactions 
    • Immune hemolytic anemias 
    • Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Rh immune globulin studies (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Indications for transfusion 

    Quality Control/Assurance 

    • Reagents, equipment 

    Laboratory Operations 

    Donor Collection, Processing, and Testing

    Competency for these tasks may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation 

    • Donor selection, preparation, and collection 
    • Processing and donor testing 
    • Component preparation for storage and administration 

  • *Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by an acceptable transcript evaluation. The foreign degree must be equivalent to a U.S. degree.

    • Master’s degree from an accredited/approved* educational institution in chemistry, biology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, medical laboratory science or an appropriately related field,   

    • AND 6 months of acceptable clinical# experience in blood banking (immunohematology) in an accredited/approved laboratory that must be documented on this Experience Documentation Form


    *Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by an acceptable transcript evaluation. The foreign degree must be equivalent to a U.S. degree.

    #Clinical laboratory accredited by JCI, CAP, under ISO 15189 or authorized by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation must have laboratories approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification.

    Experience 

    To fulfill the experience requirement for the Technologist in Blood Banking examination, you must have clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years in  ALL of the following procedures: 

    Serologic and/or Molecular Testing 

    • ABO grouping and Rh typing 
    • Antibody detection and identification 
    • Crossmatching 
    • Direct antiglobulin tests 
    • Tests for other blood group antigens 

    Routine Problem Solving 

    • Transfusion adverse reactions 
    • Immune hemolytic anemias 
    • Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Rh immune globulin studies (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Indications for transfusion 

    Quality Control/Assurance 

    • Reagents, equipment 

    Laboratory Operations 

    Donor Collection, Processing, and Testing

    Competency for these tasks may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation 

    • Donor selection, preparation, and collection 
    • Processing and donor testing 
    • Component preparation for storage and administration 

  • *Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by an acceptable transcript evaluation. The foreign degree must be equivalent to a U.S. degree.

    $Degrees/Diplomas in Medical Laboratory Science include Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Biomedical Laboratory Science.

    Experience 

    To fulfill the experience requirement for the Technologist in Blood Banking examination, you must have clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years in  ALL of the following procedures: 

    Serologic and/or Molecular Testing 

    • ABO grouping and Rh typing 
    • Antibody detection and identification 
    • Crossmatching 
    • Direct antiglobulin tests 
    • Tests for other blood group antigens 

    Routine Problem Solving 

    • Transfusion adverse reactions 
    • Immune hemolytic anemias 
    • Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Rh immune globulin studies (competency for this task may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation
    • Indications for transfusion 

    Quality Control/Assurance 

    • Reagents, equipment 

    Laboratory Operations 

    Donor Collection, Processing, and Testing

    Competency for these tasks may be demonstrated through performance, observation, or simulation 

    • Donor selection, preparation, and collection 
    • Processing and donor testing 
    • Component preparation for storage and administration 
Application Fee (non-refundable): $250

Apply for BB(ASCP)

Beginning January 1, 2026, application fees for all ASCP certification examinations will increase by $10. 

Application Fee (non-refundable): $250

Apply for BB(ASCPi)

Reduced pricing is available for those educated and residing in low-to-middle income countries

Beginning January 1, 2026, application fees for all ASCPi certification examinations will increase by $10, except for those educated and residing in low-to-middle income countries.

 

Information About Required Documentation

You must upload the appropriate documentation form when you apply online, verifying that you meet the training and/or experience requirements for your category and route of application. You will also need to submit an acceptable transcript or transcript evaluation verifying that you meet the academic requirements. Gather your documents before submitting your application and application fee.

Apply

Once you have confirmed that you meet the requirements and have gathered your documents, submit your online application.

Coming Soon! Digital Badges

In early 2026, the ASCP BOC will launch digital badging through Credly, a trusted provider that increases the visibility of ASCP BOC credential holders by securely showcasing and sharing professional credentials. Learn more about digital badges.

“As a certified Technologist in Blood Banking - BB, I work with the blood banking team by performing tests to provide safe blood components to patients in every clinical situation, from simple chronic transfusion cases to complex transplant surgeries.”

— Antonio Loza, BB(ASCP)CM