4 AFI 44-105 10 JANUARY 2019
Chapter 1
PROGRAM OVERVIEW, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.1. Overview. This publication provides the standardized procedures for management and
operation of the AFBP in alignment with requirements set forth by the AABB, the Armed Services
Blood Program, the College of American Pathologists, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs, and the FDA. The AFBP provides safe, cost-effective, quality blood products and services
in support of the Department of Defense’s wartime and peacetime medical missions. The AFBP
ensures that collection, manufacturing, storage, distribution and transfusion of blood products to
military personnel adhere to the FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practices and regulations
published by the FDA in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 200-299 and Parts 600-
680 and to the standards of national accrediting agencies. The AFBP operates per direction of the
Air Force Surgeon General by authority granted under Biologics License Number 610, issued by
the FDA.
1.2. Program Organization. The primary focus of the AFBP is to provide leadership, direction
and guidance for all elements of the AFBP in support of expeditionary and peacetime medical
missions. The AFBP is an integral part of the Armed Services Blood Program. The Armed
Services Blood Program is under the responsibility of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs. The Secretary of the Army is the Department of Defense Executive Agent for the Armed
Services Blood Program. The Armed Services Blood Program is an integrated blood products
system composed of the Military Services’ and Combatant Commands’ blood programs, and is
coordinated by the Armed Services Blood Program Office. This program provides blood products
to Department of Defense military treatment facilities for both peacetime and wartime use. The
readiness posture of the program is maintained through an active voluntary donor program, blood
collection, blood product manufacturing, quality assurance (QA), logistics, and transfusion
training programs. The program also actively participates in joint exercises and responds to
homeland defense contingencies and public health emergencies when directed by government
authorities.
1.3. Air Force Blood Program Elements. The AFBP is composed of various operational,
manufacturing and shipping elements including Blood Donor Centers, Transfusion Services,
Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Laboratories, Expeditionary Blood Transshipment
Centers, Expeditionary Blood Support Centers, and Frozen Blood Product Teams. Each element
contributes to a tri-service blood distribution system that supports military treatment facilities in
the Continental United States (CONUS) and outside the Continental United States (OCONUS)
during peacetime and wartime. All the CONUS military treatment facilities and blood donor
centers are registered or licensed with the FDA and maintain accreditation by the AABB. All
OCONUS military treatment facilities, with the exception of the 673d Medical Group, must be
registered with the FDA and are highly encouraged to follow AABB standards. The 673d Medical
Group at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, will maintain AABB accreditation and FDA
registration.
1.4. Responsibilities.
1.4.1. The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (SAF/MR)
serves as an agent of the Secretary of the Air Force and provides guidance, direction, and