WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Army's Office of the Surgeon General announced today a change to the 8T, Blood Banker, additional skill identifier (ASI) qualification standard.
This change enables laboratory officers (71E's) with their certification as a specialist in blood banking by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist to be eligible for 8T ASI.
"This allows the Army blood program to more fully utilize qualified officers in support of our mission," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Davis, an Army Reservist serving on active duty as the deputy director of the U.S. Army Blood Program.
Those eligible include all commissioned officers currently classified in any medical service corps AOC, who have successfully completed either:
- American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification as a specialist in blood banking (SBB) and master's degree in a health science discipline; OR
- ASCP certification as an SBB and three years cumulative blood banking experience (transfusion service or blood center).
Officers who previously completed the above training will also be awarded or retain SI 8T.
As an exception to personnel reclassification timelines, award of SI 8T to personnel qualified under the new qualification standards may begin Jan. 1, 2009. Effective date of award will be Jan. 1, 2009 or date of training completion, whichever is later.