Biomedical laboratory scientists’ activities in component blood collection in the blood transfusion department of our hospital: Contribution of biomedical laboratory scientists to medical practice through task shifting/sharing

Abstract

Apheresis is a blood collection method used in Japan in which blood from a patient or healthy donor is drawn into a blood collection device, separated into its components, and then only the necessary blood components are collected. Until now, medical technologists (MTs) have rarely been involved in the apheresis collection process but have focused on the subsequent cell preparation and storage of cells. Task shifting/sharing has enabled biomedical laboratory scientists to perform various tasks. At our hospital, MTs have been operating the apheresis collection device since January 2007, and on the basis of this experience, we considered how MTs should be involved in apheresis collection duties in the future. However, apheresis also involves many invasive procedures on patients; therefore, sufficient training is required and it is necessary to be extremely careful when performing these procedures.