How To Become A Blood Bank Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a blood bank technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.

Do you love challenges and are interested in how the body works? If you deeply care about other people and are not afraid of blood, working as a blood back technician is the right career choice.

Blood bank technicians are typically trained as phlebotomists. They are committed to working with patients in many different settings, such as collecting and labeling blood. Their daily tasks involve screening the collected blood and preparing blood for transfusion under the guidance of clinical laboratory technologists. That is why they are trained in various courses that cover medical terminology, blood drawing techniques, and safety standards.

Furthermore, blood bank technicians engage consistently with the public and perform interviews of prospective blood donors. They must also store and preserve documents and archives correctly. It is crucial to be detail-oriented for this role. Although the duties of blood bank technicians vary by state, all work hard in making patients comfortable during the procedure and monitoring vital signs.

What general advice would you give to a blood bank technician?

Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.

Chair, Professor, Eastern Kentucky University

To a graduate just starting out, I would highly recommend establishing a list of short-term and long-term goals. Think about where they see themselves in the next 5 to 10 years and how they plan to reach them using SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). Additionally, if they have not already done so, they should set up a LinkedIn account as many jobs can be found on that platform. New graduates should plan on making multiple resumes that can be used when applying to different jobs based on the criteria (i.e., skills, academic, etc.). Lastly, I would recommend making a list of their "dream jobs and companies" and research the skills needed to perform the duties of their dream job and learn more about the company itself.

ScoreBlood Bank TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $53,664

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

9.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 12.01%

Black or African American 10.54%

Hispanic or Latino 17.24%

Unknown 5.12%

White 54.29%

Gender

female 66.56%

male 33.44%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a blood bank technician

Explore blood bank technician education requirements

Most common blood bank technician degrees

Bachelor's

60.2 %

Associate

18.2 %

Certificate

6.0 %

Start to develop specific blood bank technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Blood Bank	16.03%
Clinical Laboratory	14.74%
Patients	10.44%
Compatibility	7.89%
Blood Samples	6.36%

Complete relevant blood bank technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New blood bank technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a blood bank technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real blood bank technician resumes.

Research blood bank technician duties and responsibilities

Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
Function in all areas of testing, maintenance and quality control in hematology and chemistry.
Provide emergency coverage in hematology, chemistry, coagulation, blood gas, urinalysis, and HIV labs.
Perform ABO for adults, and babies, RH typing, antibody screening by tube or gel technique.

Prepare your blood bank technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your blood bank technician resume.

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