BB(ASCP) Blood Banking & Immunohematology Certification Exam
2026: Comprehensive Professional Practice Test — Blood Products,
Donor Eligibility, Compatibility Testing, Transfusion Reactions,
Antibody Identification & Quality Control — 190 Multiple-Choice
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A donor center is evaluating a potential blood donor who spent three years in the United
Kingdom from 1980 to 1983. Based on current FDA guidance regarding variant Creutzfeldt-
Jakob disease (vCJD) risk, what is the appropriate disposition?
A. Accept the donor if hemoglobin is adequate
B. Defer permanently due to geographic risk
C. Defer for 12 months from departure date
D. Accept if the donor has no history of neurological symptoms
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The FDA maintains permanent deferral for donors with cumulative UK
residence exceeding three months during the peak BSE risk period (1980-1996) to prevent
vCJD transmission. This geographic exclusion remains a critical donor safety measure despite
declining case numbers globally.
Question 2
A unit of whole blood is collected at 08:00 on Monday. If the unit is processed into AS-1 red
blood cells in a closed system, what is the maximum allowable storage period under
standard blood bank conditions?
,A. 21 days from collection
B. 35 days from collection
C. 42 days from collection
D. 45 days from collection
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Red blood cells collected in anticoagulant-preservative solutions containing AS-
1 (adenine-saline) maintain acceptable viability and function for 42 days at 1-6°C. This
extended storage is possible because the additive solution provides additional adenine and
glucose to support metabolic requirements.
Question 3
Which of the following storage temperatures is correct for fresh frozen plasma that will be
stored for up to 12 months?
A. -18°C or colder
B. -12°C or colder
C. -30°C or colder
D. -80°C or colder
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Fresh frozen plasma must be maintained at -18°C or below to preserve labile
coagulation factors, particularly Factor V and Factor VIII. Plasma stored at -18°C or colder
retains acceptable factor activity for 12 months from collection.
Question 4
,A blood bank technologist receives a returned unit of red blood cells that was issued to the
operating room 45 minutes ago. The blood was never transfused, the container seal remains
intact, and the unit was maintained in a validated transport cooler. What is the appropriate
action?
A. Discard the unit immediately
B. Return the unit to inventory if visual inspection is satisfactory
C. Quarantine the unit for 24 hours before returning to inventory
D. Return the unit only if the cooler temperature was below 10°C
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Blood components may be returned to inventory if the container has not been
entered, at least one sealed segment remains attached, visual inspection is satisfactory, and
storage temperature was maintained. Validated coolers maintain acceptable temperatures
for defined periods.
Question 5
A 45-year-old donor with a history of therapeutic phlebotomy for hemochromatosis presents
for a directed donation. Which of the following statements regarding therapeutic blood
donation is correct?
A. Therapeutic donations are never eligible for transfusion
B. Blood from therapeutic phlebotomy may be used if the donor meets all eligibility criteria
C. Therapeutic donations require special infectious disease testing
D. Hemochromatosis donors are permanently deferred from all donation types
Correct Answer: B
, Explanation: Blood collected during therapeutic phlebotomy for hemochromatosis may be
used for transfusion provided the donor meets all standard eligibility requirements and the
collection occurs at an FDA-registered blood establishment. The underlying condition does
not preclude use.
Question 6
Which anticoagulant-preservative solution is associated with the longest allowable storage
period for whole blood-derived platelets?
A. ACD (acid-citrate-dextrose)
B. CPD (citrate-phosphate-dextrose)
C. CP2D (citrate-phosphate-double dextrose)
D. CPDA-1 (citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine)
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: CPDA-1 contains adenine, which supports extended red cell viability. For whole
blood collections intended for platelet production, CPDA-1 allows red cells to be stored for
35 days while platelets are prepared within 8 hours of collection.
Question 7
A donor center is processing a unit of whole blood collected in a triple-bag system. The
platelets will be prepared as a platelet concentrate. Within what timeframe must the whole
blood be centrifuged to optimize platelet yield?
A. 2 hours of collection
B. 4 hours of collection
C. 8 hours of collection
2026: Comprehensive Professional Practice Test — Blood Products,
Donor Eligibility, Compatibility Testing, Transfusion Reactions,
Antibody Identification & Quality Control — 190 Multiple-Choice
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A donor center is evaluating a potential blood donor who spent three years in the United
Kingdom from 1980 to 1983. Based on current FDA guidance regarding variant Creutzfeldt-
Jakob disease (vCJD) risk, what is the appropriate disposition?
A. Accept the donor if hemoglobin is adequate
B. Defer permanently due to geographic risk
C. Defer for 12 months from departure date
D. Accept if the donor has no history of neurological symptoms
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The FDA maintains permanent deferral for donors with cumulative UK
residence exceeding three months during the peak BSE risk period (1980-1996) to prevent
vCJD transmission. This geographic exclusion remains a critical donor safety measure despite
declining case numbers globally.
Question 2
A unit of whole blood is collected at 08:00 on Monday. If the unit is processed into AS-1 red
blood cells in a closed system, what is the maximum allowable storage period under
standard blood bank conditions?
,A. 21 days from collection
B. 35 days from collection
C. 42 days from collection
D. 45 days from collection
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Red blood cells collected in anticoagulant-preservative solutions containing AS-
1 (adenine-saline) maintain acceptable viability and function for 42 days at 1-6°C. This
extended storage is possible because the additive solution provides additional adenine and
glucose to support metabolic requirements.
Question 3
Which of the following storage temperatures is correct for fresh frozen plasma that will be
stored for up to 12 months?
A. -18°C or colder
B. -12°C or colder
C. -30°C or colder
D. -80°C or colder
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Fresh frozen plasma must be maintained at -18°C or below to preserve labile
coagulation factors, particularly Factor V and Factor VIII. Plasma stored at -18°C or colder
retains acceptable factor activity for 12 months from collection.
Question 4
,A blood bank technologist receives a returned unit of red blood cells that was issued to the
operating room 45 minutes ago. The blood was never transfused, the container seal remains
intact, and the unit was maintained in a validated transport cooler. What is the appropriate
action?
A. Discard the unit immediately
B. Return the unit to inventory if visual inspection is satisfactory
C. Quarantine the unit for 24 hours before returning to inventory
D. Return the unit only if the cooler temperature was below 10°C
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Blood components may be returned to inventory if the container has not been
entered, at least one sealed segment remains attached, visual inspection is satisfactory, and
storage temperature was maintained. Validated coolers maintain acceptable temperatures
for defined periods.
Question 5
A 45-year-old donor with a history of therapeutic phlebotomy for hemochromatosis presents
for a directed donation. Which of the following statements regarding therapeutic blood
donation is correct?
A. Therapeutic donations are never eligible for transfusion
B. Blood from therapeutic phlebotomy may be used if the donor meets all eligibility criteria
C. Therapeutic donations require special infectious disease testing
D. Hemochromatosis donors are permanently deferred from all donation types
Correct Answer: B
, Explanation: Blood collected during therapeutic phlebotomy for hemochromatosis may be
used for transfusion provided the donor meets all standard eligibility requirements and the
collection occurs at an FDA-registered blood establishment. The underlying condition does
not preclude use.
Question 6
Which anticoagulant-preservative solution is associated with the longest allowable storage
period for whole blood-derived platelets?
A. ACD (acid-citrate-dextrose)
B. CPD (citrate-phosphate-dextrose)
C. CP2D (citrate-phosphate-double dextrose)
D. CPDA-1 (citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine)
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: CPDA-1 contains adenine, which supports extended red cell viability. For whole
blood collections intended for platelet production, CPDA-1 allows red cells to be stored for
35 days while platelets are prepared within 8 hours of collection.
Question 7
A donor center is processing a unit of whole blood collected in a triple-bag system. The
platelets will be prepared as a platelet concentrate. Within what timeframe must the whole
blood be centrifuged to optimize platelet yield?
A. 2 hours of collection
B. 4 hours of collection
C. 8 hours of collection
