Plasma and Blood Center Operations
Technical Certificate · 18 credit hours · 2 semesters · Division of Investigative and Protective Services
Donor screening, phlebotomy, plasmapheresis machine operation, cold chain management, donor recruitment and retention, and FDA and AABB compliance documentation for source plasma and blood collection facilities. Donor recruitment instruction covers retention of repeat donors, including scheduling cadence and the documentation required when a donor's deferral period affects a previously confirmed appointment.
The program includes phlebotomy certification preparation. A minimum of 100 successful supervised venipunctures is required for completion. Documentation of the hepatitis B vaccination series is required before the practicum term; the series is available at cost to students without documentation.
Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA 110 | Donor Screening and Eligibility | 3 | 1 |
| PLA 120 | Phlebotomy Technique I | 4 | 1 |
| PLA 130 | Regulatory Documentation | 2 | 1 |
| PLA 180 | Venipuncture Practicum | 4 | 2 |
| PLA 210 | Plasmapheresis Operation | 3 | 2 |
| PLA 220 | Cold Chain and Quality Systems | 2 | 2 |
Student outcomes
| Measure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of published length | 71.4% |
| Placement in field or related field | 90% |
Rates are calculated under the methodology statement of record (rev. 2025-08-15).
Graduates
One hundred venipunctures seemed excessive when I read the catalog. It was not. I hire now, and I ask applicants for their supervised stick count before I ask anything else.
Yolanda Acevedo, ’26 — Donor floor supervisor, Akron
Facilities and instruction
Instruction is delivered in the facilities of the Division of Investigative and Protective Services. Additional photographs are collected at Campus photographs.
programs/plasma-blood-center-operations · Bellweather College of Applied Technology