Medical technologists in blood banks are in need owing to the growing importance of the blood banks. Medical technologists are skilled in all areas of the lab; however, there are many institutes and courses are there for specialized programs for different fields like microbiology, immunology, hematology and many more. Medical specialist who works in blood bank is specially trained in immunohematology. Blood banks rely on skilled medical technicians to draw, document and process blood for use in many vital medical procedures. These medical technologists in blood banks interview prospective donors to determine whether they are eligible for blood donation; then collect the blood sample for typing and testing and then prepare those blood samples for safe storage.
The common procedure any medical technologists in blood banks have to perform an ABO blood group and Rh type detection and select appropriate blood for blood transfusion. Compatibility testing to ensure that donor's blood will be compatible with recipient is done. Incompatible blood transfusion can cause fatal transfusion reaction; all these must be done with utmost care and medical technologists has to pay attention to all required details.
Other than testing blood samples for blood groups and Rh type, medical technologists in blood bank has to do collection of blood samples for donors, then they have test those blood units for an kind of infections like hepatitis and HIV. Blood is centrifuged to separate its components. Most important part of blood, the red blood cells is modified with additive solution that extends their shelf life. Red blood cells are frozen. Medical technologists in blood banks have to convert less dense blood plasma into many frozen components. Sometimes blood platelets are removed and stored separately.
Medical technologists in blood banks are trained in various fields like theory of transfusion, immunohaematology procedures and management strategies used in blood bank. Medical technologists working in blood banks are also qualified as technical consultants, administrators, educators and clinical research technologist in immunohaematology and transfusion medicine. To start as medical technologists in blood banks require bachelor's degree in medical technology with specialization in blood bank technology or life science.
medical technologists specialized in blood bank technology can work with community blood centers, private hospital blood bank, transfusion services, independent laboratory, after few years of experience they can work as faculty in some institute or some university.