Apheresis Specialist

By joining the American Red Cross you will touch millions of lives every year and experience the greatness of the human spirit at its best. Are you ready to be part of the world's largest humanitarian network?_

Join us—Where your Career is a Force for Good

**Job Description**:

- WHY CHOOSE US?_
As one of the nation’s premier humanitarian organizations, the American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States and, in association with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world. We depend on the many generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support our lifesaving services and programs. At the American Red Cross, you will enjoy a collaborative work culture committed to the diversity of our people, programs, and services. If you share our passion for helping people, join us in this excellent career opportunity. Work where your career is a force for good.
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (Job Overview):_

Provide clinical apheresis procedures in American Red Cross facilities. These procedures include Leukopaks and whole blood collections and may include after-hours, weekends, and holidays.

Demonstrate excellence in customer service and public relations to promote a positive professional image of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services. Works independently with attention to detail and possesses the necessary knowledge of all aspects of daily operations.
- WHERE YOUR CAREER IS A FORCE FOR GOOD_ (Key Responsibilities):

- Perform all phases of apheresis procedures and whole blood collections ensuring safe and appropriate care of the donor.
- Report donor status relative to apheresis, prior to and during procedures, including blood test results
- Demonstrate knowledge and compliance with all ARC departmental and organizational standard operating procedures, policies, practices, and regulations.
- Explain, procedures to donors and obtain consent to perform the procedure.
- Represent the American Red Cross to the community and internal customers by establishing and promoting a positive organizational and professional image.
- Complete necessary training and demonstrate competency to perform each job function.
- Assemble, restock, perform quality control, and maintain supplies and equipment in a state of readiness to maintain a clean, safe, and efficient work environment.
- If appropriate, operate American Red Cross vehicles in compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Perform other duties as necessary.

Standard Schedule: Variable 1st shift. Looking for staff interested in working weekends and we can negotiate the 2 days off during the weekdays and some evenings. However, training will be Monday
- Friday until sign-off.
- WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED (Minimum Qualifications):_
- Phlebotomy experience required.
- A minimum of one year of experience in medical/nursing is a plus.
- Current CPR certification.
- Good vein selection and venipuncture skills are essential.
- Good verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively discuss procedures and medical issues with patients, families, and physicians.
- Previous apheresis or dialysis experience is preferred.
- Customer service experience, effective verbal communication, and public relations skills are preferred.
- A current valid driver's license and a good driving record are required.
- What is Leukopaks:_

Leukapheresis is the collection of leukocytes — also known as white blood cells or immune cells. A donor reclines in a chair and blood is drawn through a vein in one arm. An apheresis machine removes white blood cells from the superfluous biofluids, separates them based on density and collects them in a collection bag known as a leukopak. The remaining red blood cells and platelets are then returned to the same donor through a vein in their other arm. (The white blood cells that have been removed will be replaced quickly.) The white blood cells collected are frequently referred to as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and contain B cells, T cells, stem/progenitor cells and dendritic cells. Leukapheresis allows for a concentrated, pure method to obtain PBMCs from a single individual donor.

Leukopaks are used when a large number of PBMCs are needed from an individual donor, such as drug screening (immuno-oncology and non-oncology), cell therapy (research and development) and gene therapy. Sourcing healthy donor PBMCs allows for the use of single donor cell populations with greater viability and less inter
- and intra-assay variability, as well as to develop well-characterized methods of production for autologous therapies (cell therapies where a patient’s own cells are modified for treatment). For these cell therapy developments, large numbers of PBMCs sourced from a single donor are important for creating relevant biological assays, as well as for quality control testing. In these cases, healthy donors are matched to patients in terms of demographic criteria, such as age