1. Increase research infrastructure and activity

ASFA recognizes the need to have its own registry. We will determine funding, governance and structure in the coming years. Similarly, we will offer educational content to educate professionals in conducting research.

2. Promote professional education and recognition of apheresis providers

ASFA already provides professional education in the form of our annual meeting, webinar program, the Journal for Clinical Apheresis, the Principles of Apheresis Technology textbook, etc. We look to increase our promotional efforts to educate and build awareness to the field of apheresis.

Current apheresis providers are eligible for Qualification in Apheresis (QIA), a qualification managed by ASCP. ASFA intends to further develop the program and consider converting it into a certification.

3. Position ASFA as the expert resource on apheresis to policy makers

The Special Issue, Clinical Applications of Therapeutic Apheresis: An Evidence Based Approach. 9th Edition was released in April 2023. This is a resource widely used within the apheresis community. ASFA has initiated and will continue to inform insurance companies, FDA, CMS and other relevant parties of its release to make appropriate and relevant changes to their own policies. Likewise, we look to identify and establish relevant patient advocacy groups for the benefit of both groups.

4. Increase international engagement and collaboration

We look to expand our engagement with international organizations and members. Where possible, we will seek recognition of the guidelines internationally and engage in shared educational activities. We will also explore having educational activities in languages other than English at future meetings, webinars, and print ed materials.

5. Promote a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in apheresis

Pertaining to our newest pillar, we look to provide DEI educational opportunities, and partner with relevant organizations regarding DEI initiatives. We want to establish as a prime example of DEI in hopes to positively impact the apheresis community.

Click here to view our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

More information on this approval can be found here.

Click here for more information on each of the awards and to nominate a colleague today!

ASFA is pleased to announce an open application process for the 2018 ASFA Regional Meeting. Only ASFA members may submit an application to host and organize the 2018 ASFA Regional Meeting.

Click here for more information and apply today!

• Nicole Aqui, MD
• Rasheed Balogun, MD, FCAP, FASN, HP(ASCP)
• Haewon C. Kim, MD
• Oluwatoyosi A. Onwuemene, MD, MS

This ASFA publication is a comprehensive manual on reimbursement for those who practice in the field of apheresis and those involved in billing for apheresis procedures.

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Journal of Clinical Apheresis (JCA) Special Issue Writing Committee is charged with reviewing, updating, and categorizing indications for the evidence-based use of therapeutic apheresis in human disease. Since the 2007 JCA Special Issue (Fourth Edition), the Committee has incorporated systematic review and evidence-based approaches in the grading and categorization of apheresis indications.

This Seventh Edition of the JCA Special Issue continues to maintain this methodology and rigor to make recommendations on the use of apheresis in a wide variety of diseases/conditions. The JCA Seventh Edition, like its predecessor, has consistently applied the category and grading system definitions in the fact sheets. The general layout and concept of a fact sheet that was used since the fourth edition has largely been maintained in this edition. Each fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of therapeutic apheresis in a specific disease entity. The Seventh Edition discusses 87 fact sheets (14 new fact sheets since the Sixth Edition) for therapeutic apheresis diseases and medical conditions, with 179 indications, which are separately graded and categorized within the listed fact sheets. Several diseases that are Category IV which have been described in detail in previous editions and do not have significant new evidence since the last publication are summarized in a separate table. The Seventh Edition of the JCA Special Issue serves as a key resource that guides the utilization of therapeutic apheresis in the treatment of human disease.

Click here to access the 2016 JCA Special Edition! 

ASFA is pleased to offer a Qualification in Apheresis (QIA) in partnership with The Board of Certification (BOC) of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as of January 2016!

Prove your competency in apheresis by taking the QIA exam! In order to add the letters QIA after your name, follow this link:
 http://www.ascp.org/Board-of-Certification/Qualification/Step-1/Qualification-in-Apheresis-QIA.html

An eligible applicant does not have to be a member of ASFA or ASCP but must satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following routes:

• ROUTE 1: RN, LPN, or LVN with U.S. state license, certificate, or diploma*, AND 3 years full-time acceptable experience in apheresis or 5 years part-time acceptable experience in apheresis within the last 10 years.
• ROUTE 2: Professional nurse diploma or equivalent received outside of the U.S.*, AND 3 years full-time acceptable experience in apheresis or 5 years part-time acceptable experience in apheresis within the last 10 years. 
• ROUTE 3: ASCP or ASCPi certification in the following categories: MLS/MT, BB, SBB or MLT AND 3 years of full-time acceptable experience in apheresis or 5 years part-time acceptable experience in apheresis within the last 10 years. 
• ROUTE 4: Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university in the U.S. or an accredited/approved educational institution** outside of the U.S. with a combination of 24 semester-hours (36 quarter-hours) of biology and/or chemistry, AND 3 years of full-time acceptable experience in apheresis or 5 years part-time acceptable experience in apheresis within the last 10 years. 
• ROUTE 5: Doctorate in medicine or equivalent of a U.S. Doctorate in Medicine**, AND 1 year of acceptable experience as an apheresis physician within the last 5 years. 
• ROUTE 6: Doctorate in medicine or equivalent of a U.S. Doctorate in Medicine**, AND documented training in a relevant accredited post graduate medical education program which includes apheresis (e.g., transfusion medicine, hematology/oncology, nephrology, clinical pathology). 

* Applicants must submit a notarized copy of their official certificate, diploma, or license. 

**Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry, or eligibility will be determined by transcript evaluation. The baccalaureate degree must be equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree. A doctorate in medicine must be equivalent to a U.S. doctorate in medicine. 

For routes 1-4, experience must be documented within the time-frame required in at least one of the following apheresis areas:

• Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) 
• Red blood cell exchange 
• Cellular depletions 
• Selective adsorptions 
• Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) 
• Mononuclear cell collections (MNC) 
• Hematopoietic progenitor cell collection (HPC)
• Automated red blood cell collections (RBC)
• Donor platelet collections
• Donor plasma collections
• Granulocyte collections 

For routes 5 and 6, experience/training must be documented in all of the following areas and must have completed been within the time-frame required:

• Evaluating patients and/or donors for suitability to undergo apheresis procedures 
• Writing orders for apheresis procedures 
• Supervising apheresis procedures 
• Evaluating and managing adverse events during apheresis procedures 

In order to apply, go to http://www.ascp.org/Board-of-Certification/Qualification#tabs-3 to complete the eligibility requirements and submit the application fee of $240.00.  

Once your application and eligibility documentation are approved by the BOC, you’ll receive an email admission notification containing an authorization number to the examination. 

The test is self-administered on your own computer (not tablet or iphone) at the date and time of your choice within the 60-day time-period indicated on your admission. 

It is essential to provide an accurate email address to ensure you receive communication regarding the status of your application. 

The examination consists of a 50-question multiple choice timed-test that must be completed in 90 minutes.  

The successful candidate will receive documentation of his/her qualification which is valid for 3 years.  Requalification may be obtained every 3 years with a $50 application fee and documentation of completion of 6 contact-hours of acceptable continuing education / other activities in apheresis.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Winters graduated with high distinction from the University Of Kentucky College Of Medicine in Lexington Kentucky in 1993. His postgraduate training consisted of an Anatomic/Clinical Pathology residency in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Kentucky and a Transfusion Medicine/Blood Banking fellowship in the Division of Transfusion Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine. Dr. Winters is currently an Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology in the Mayo College of Medicine and is the Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic Therapeutic Apheresis Treatment Unit, a fifteen-bed unit performing approximately 3,000 therapeutic apheresis procedures annually. Dr. Winters is actively involved in ASFA and was President of ASFA from 2010 to 2011. He has also served on the Apheresis Applications Committees responsible for the 2000, 2007, 2010, and 2013 therapeutic apheresis guidelines, published in JCA Special Issues. Dr Winters has also been an associate editor for the JCA and was an editor and author for Apheresis: Principles and Practice 3rd edition and Therapeutic Apheresis: A Physician’s Handbook 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions. Dr Winters has been an author on 94 peer-reviewed publications, of which 63 deal with apheresis.

Dr. Winters will work with Dr. Robert Weinstein, MD, to transition into the Editor-in-Chief role and his appointment will be effective June 1, 2015.

ASFA looks forward to the continued success of the JCA with this new leadership!

ASFA has partnered with the Board of Certification (BOC) of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to establish a new Apheresis Practitioner Qualification (APQ). The ASCP BOC offers qualifications for specific skills in several technical areas of laboratory medicine and is pleased to add the Apheresis Practitioner Qualification to its portfolio of qualifications. Upon meeting specific educational and experience requirements, candidates will be eligible to complete an online examination and if successful gain recognition for their competency as an apheresis practitioner. The APQ will be appropriate for a broad range of apheresis professionals, including but not limited to, RN, MLS(ASCP), MT(ASCP), BB(ASCP), SBB(ASCP), individuals with a baccalaureate degree and/or doctor in medicine. Topics within the APQ will include apheresis quality assurance, vascular access, cellular therapy collection, donor procedures, therapeutic procedures, instrumentation, calculation of blood volume and procedural mathematics, transfusion of blood products, pharmacology and anticoagulation, and evidence based best practice of apheresis medicine. The APQ will standardize training and competency in the apheresis profession.

The Apheresis Practitioner Qualification Workgroup has recently been confirmed and will be working on development of the new APQ examination questions. ASFA expects that the APQ will be offered for the first time in late 2015. ASFA looks forward to the success of this new initiative!

View or share the full press release here!

Come to the Journal of Clinical Apheresis Special Issue Committee meeting at the ASFA & WAA Joint Meeting in April to learn more about the opportunity  to be an author for a future JCA Special Issue.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, April 3 from 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm in Regency A.

Download the JCA Special Issue Committee application.