Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services

The 31st edition of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services details the latest standards of practice in blood banking and transfusion medicine. As in the past, each chapter heading represents one of the Quality System Essentials and the quality standards are supplemented by technical requirements. The effective date of this edition is April 1, 2018. Significant changes: Standards 5.1.2.1 through 5.1.2.1.2 are new to the 31st edition, created to ensure that facilities located outside the United States participate in an external proficiency testing program where available. Standard 5.6.7.1 has been edited to mirror the requirements detailed in the Code of Federal Regulations, ensuring that the standard does not focus solely on hereditary hemochromatosis. Standards 5.15.1, 5.27.1, new standard 5.27.1.1 and standard 5.27.2 have been edited to include for the allowance of the use of low titer group O Whole Blood in certain situations. New standard 5.27.1.1 requires that facilitie