BB (ASCP) Technologist in Blood Banking: Certification Routes, Study Material Guide & Exam Questions and Prep Course!

Earning a BB ASCP technologist in Blood Banking Certificate is a significant career achievement. It not only validates your expertise but opens doors to more promising opportunities in the blood banking sector. However, how can you earn the coveted credential? What are the eligibility requirements, and how can one pass the exam?

The tasks related to blood banking (such as blood collection, testing, and transfusion services) are vital in saving not just one but hundreds of lives. As such, it demands an esteemed level of professionalism, skill, knowledge base, and dedication.

What does BB ASCP Mean?

Blood bank technologists are professionals who see to the seamless storage and transfer of blood, from donor to blood bank, and back to the patient who needs it. All the essential tasks related to blood banking, including blood collection, testing, and transfusion services are performed by BB Technologists.

If you're a healthcare worker hoping to delve into blood banking or you're one already but want to advance your career, ASCP Technologist in blood banking (BB ASCP) Certificate is the answer.

The BB ASCP credential is a unique certificate organized by the ASCP BOC (American Society for Clinical Pathology) for Technologists in Blood Banking who aspire to attain the highest possible level of their careers.

Opened for both US residents (ASCP) and International (ASCPi) blood banking technologists, the ASCP Certificate exam on blood banking tests your expertise and knowledge before awarding you such an esteemed credential.

BB (ASCP) Vs. BB (ASCPi)

While the ASCP and ASCPi are equally the same credentials offered by the ASCP BOC, there remains a slight variation.

The ASCP credential is widely recognized and highly valuable among healthcare professionals all over the US. It is the most preferred certification for every Blood Banking Technologist living in the US.

By the nature of this credentialing system, individuals with this certificate have been tested and found not lacking in any skills or knowledge required to advance their careers as blood banking technologists. The application fee for the BB (ASCP) technologist credential is $250.

BB ASCPi certification, on the other hand, is much like the regular ASCP but for non-US residents. Healthcare professionals, particularly blood banking technologists living outside of the USA seeking recognition for their education and expertise. Beyond being the international equivalent for the ASCP, ASCPi holds great value in the global healthcare industry. It also improves the earner's chances of securing better pay anywhere in the world, including the US. Unlike the BB ASCP, its application fee is $210.

Requirements for BB ASCP Technologist In Blood Bank

For both US-based and foreign Blood Banking Technologists aspiring to reach the pinnacle of their career in Blood Banking, obtaining the BB (ASCP/ ASCPi) is the crucial step towards achieving that. However, you need to know if you're eligible for this certification.

US Routes

• Route 1: Must possess a valid MLS(ASCP) certification and a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Route 2: Baccalaureate degree in biological science or Chemistry from an accredited university or college and one year of full-time clinical experience in blood banking in an acceptable laboratory within the last five years.
• Route 3: Baccalaureate degree in biological science or Chemistry from an accredited university or college. And completion of a blood banking course from NAACLS accredited Medical Laboratory Scientist Program within the last five years.
• Route 4: Master’s degree in chemistry, immunology, microbiology, medical health science, immunohematology, or any related field from an accredited university or college. And six months of full-time clinical experience in blood banking within the last five years.
• Route 5: Baccalaureate degree in medical laboratory from an accredited university or college and successful completion of NAACLS program as a Medical Laboratory Scientist Program within the last five years.

International Routes

• Route 1: Must possess a valid MLS(ASCPi) certification, and a baccalaureate degree from an approved educational institution.
• Route 2: Baccalaureate degree in biological science or Chemistry from an accredited educational institution and one year of full-time clinical experience in blood banking in an acceptable laboratory.
• Route 3: Baccalaureate degree in biological science or Chemistry from an accredited educational institution. And successful completion of a blood banking clinical training program and internship. 
• Route 4: Master’s degree in chemistry, immunology, microbiology, medical health science, immunohematology, or any related field from an accredited educational institute. And six months of clinical experience in blood banking (immunohematology). 
• Route 5: Baccalaureate degree in medical laboratory from an accredited university or college and successful completion of Medical Laboratory training Program.

Clinical Laboratory Experience for ASCP & ASCP

In the experience requirement for the BB ASCP Technologist in Blood Banking exam, applicants must have clinical laboratory experience within the last five years in all of the following,

• Molecular Testing/ Serology
• Antibody detection and identification
• ABO grouping and Rh typing
• Crossmatching
• Direct antiglobulin tests
• Tests for other blood group antigens
• Quality Control
• Reagents, equipment
• Problem-Solving
• Immune hemolytic anemias
• Indications for transfusion
• Transfusion reactions
• Rh immune globulin studies
• Laboratory Operations
• Component preparation for storage and administration
• Donor selection, preparation, and collection
• Processing and donor testing
• Processing and donor testing

BB ASCP Exam for Technologist in Blood Banking

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification of Technologist in Blood Banking is designed for medical laboratory technologists. These professionals work with physicians in blood transfusion therapy by identifying blood types and antibodies during routine and specialized testing.

To obtain a Technologist in Blood Banking (BB) certification, you must meet the eligibility requirements (education and experience requirements) and pass a written exam.

To verify eligibility, the BOC has listed 5 eligibility routes. You can also check out your eligibility through the BOC Eligibility Assistant. Next is to create an ASCP account online and submit the necessary documentation and transcripts. All documentation including form(s) and Letter(s) of Authenticity must be uploaded as PDF documents. On completion of the documentation process, submit proof of payment of the non-refundable application fees. After that, wait for about four weeks for your application to be approved.

Qualifying for the blood banking ASCP Technologist exam means receiving an Admission Notification email with an authorization number to schedule the examination. Once you get the notification, you can schedule an appointment to take the computer-based examination within the period indicated in your Admission Notification. Be careful to carry out all scheduling/rescheduling exclusively at Pearson VUE Professional Center.

BOC Exam CAT

The BOC applies the CAT system (computer adaptive testing) for the Technologist in Blood Banking certification exam. This means you must attempt all questions as they come, without skipping any.

The blood banking ASCP examination consists of a 100-question, multiple-choice, timed test that must be completed within two and a half hours.

BOC Exam Result

Although, after the exam, you'll receive unofficial pass/fail results at the testing center upon completion of the exam. The actual score, however, will be made available to you (online) four business days from the day you took the exam. The BOC will rate you on a scale of 100 to 999, with the average score being 400.

BB (ASCP) Study Guide and Exam Content Guidelines

The BB ASCP certificate exam tests candidates in core areas of blood banking. These content areas and percentages include,

• Blood Products -15-20%
• Blood Group Systems – 15-20%
• Immunology and Physiology – 10-20%
• Serologic and Molecular Testing – 20-25%
• Transfusion Practice – 15-20%
• Laboratory Operations – 5-10%

The BB ASCP Technologist certification exam questions within the contents above may be both theoretical and procedural. While the theoretical questions measure your skills necessary to apply knowledge, calculate results, and correlate patient results to disease states, the procedural questions verify your skills necessary to perform laboratory techniques and follow quality assurance standards.

BOC Reading List for Blood Banking ASCP

Aside from making available content areas and percentages, the BOC has also provided a reading list for everyone aspiring to take the BB (ASCP) technologist certificate exams. Some of these include,

Texts

• Eisenbrey, A.B.  “HLA from Benchtop to Bedside. 1st edition” by Eisenbret A.B.
• “Clinical Immunology and Serology: A Laboratory Perspective. 5th edition by Miller, L.E. & Stevens, C.D.
• ” Transfusion Therapy: Clinical Principles and Practice. 4th edition by Marquez, M., Schwartz, J., & Wu, Y.
• “Mathematics for the Clinical Laboratory. 4th edition” by Doucette, L.J.
• “Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services. 33rd edition” by AABB.
• “Standards for Immunohematology Reference Laboratories. 12th edition” by AABB.

Journals

“Transfusion Medicine Reviews”. by Elsevier.

Online

• “AABB”
• “Blood Bank Guy – Transfusion Medicine Education”
• “Indian Immunohematology Initiative”
• “International Society of Blood Transfusion”

While the list is vital, it only serves as a partial reference source. The BOC has maintained its stand the exam questions will not be drawn only from the reading list.

Study Material for BB ASCP Technologist in Blood Banking

The ASCP BOC reading list and content guidelines will no doubt, go a long way in helping you to pass this certificate exam, but that could be a stretch. With so many texts, journals, and online resources to cover for the exam, one could easily get discouraged. A concise and comprehensive study material for the BB ASCP technologist exam is all it takes to instill courage.

If you genuinely wish to ace your BB (ASCP) certificate exam in one sitting, you must arm yourself with the appropriate study material. MLSIA offers just the best study material!

Designed to help many BB technologist reach the apex of their careers, the MLSIA BB ASCP study material is well-curated and positioned to instill the right knowledge and boost your confidence. It contains,

• Detailed study guides
• Practice questions
• Interactive learning tools.

These resources have helped hundreds of healthcare professionals ace the BB ASCP technologist exam in one sitting.

BB (ASCP) Exam Preparation for Technologists in Blood Banking

There's no denying that the Blood Banking ASCP certificate exam could be the hardest test you'd face in your career, but it's definitely worth it. After all, no good thing comes easy. Regardless of how tough the exam is, MLSIA has a tested and trusted solution to help you pass the exam with flying colors. This is the MLSIA BB (ASCP) preparation course.

Tailored to make your journey to earning your BB (ASCP) credential easier, our exceptional preparatory course packs,

• Flexible live classes
• Unified study material
• Practice Tests
• Interactive tools

We understand how important the ASCP/ASCPi certificate is to many healthcare professionals, especially blood banking technologists. Our sole goal is to see you ace your exam at the first trial.

How to Become BB ASCP Technologist in Blood Banking

With a good exam prep institute on your side like MLSIA, you're guaranteed to pass the exam at an above-average rate.

BB ASCP FAQs