About

I launched my career with a diploma in medical technology (blood transfusion) from the Cape Technikon in ’75, and then went on in ’88 to attain a diploma in pharmaceutical production, as well as a masters degree in biomedical technology at said institution in ’97. My master’s degree thesis was titled Optimisation of Production Variables Governing Yield and Stability of Factor VIII in Cryoprecipitate (‘97). A short course qualification includes statistics and research methodology (Cape Technikon, ‘89).

I’ve held various positions as: key accounts sales manager (blood banks), national product manager (blood division), medical technologist, product consultant and supervisor of training (all concerning blood transfusion), and principle medical technologist (component processing dept).

My professional appointments include: Part-time lecturer in blood transfusion technology, as well as laboratory management, member of the Cape Technikon advisory committee, chairperson for the Western Cape Blood Service (WPBTS), member of the National Accreditation Committee of Society Medical Laboratory Technology South Africa (SMLTSA) and technical assessor at the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).

I was an independent consultant for close to 5 years, which included assisting companies to apply for SETA training and grants, conducting technical audits and assessments, among others.

My professional society memberships include: medical technologist with the South African Medical and Dental Council, associate member of the Institute of Marketing Management; as well as member of: Haemophilic Society of South Africa (Western Cape Branch), the Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists of South Africa, not to mention Africa Society of Blood Transfusion.

Congresses attended: National Blood Transfusion Council Congress (since ‘79), International Medical Technology Congress (Durban, since ’79), National Medical Technology Congress (‘78—‘93), and the International Society of Blood Transfusion Congress (Norway, ’98).

I was appointed Secretary of Organising Committee of the National Medical Technology Congress, Cape Town, from ‘93—‘95.

A selection of papers I presented at various congresses, of which I authored and/or co-authored: Stabilised Human Serum: Quality Control and Initial Results of Clinical Usage (‘83), Single Donor Cryoprecipitate Production: A Review of Current Methods (‘84), The Effects of Fibinopeptide A on FVIII Yields (‘86), Practical Experience with Preparation and Usage of Leucocyte Reduced Red Blood Cells (‘87), Statistics Need Not be a Medical Technologists Nightmare (‘88), The Contents of Modified Fresh Frozen Plasma (‘88), Cytomegalovirus: Seronegative Blood Components Using Regular Blood Donors (‘89), Development in Filtration Approaches in Transfusion (‘92), Current Concepts in Leucocyte Depletion (‘95), Customer Needs Analysis: The Introduction of a Limited Donor Exposure Programme (LDEP) for Very Low Birth Weight Infants (‘97), Customer Service for the Neonatal/Paediatric Patient (‘97) and A Limited Donor Exposure Program for Neonates in South Africa (‘88).

Published articles include: Cytomegalovirus: Seronegative Blood Components Using Regular Blood Donors (‘91) and Introduction of a Donor Exposure Reduction Programme for Multiple-transfused Very Low Birth-weight Infants (‘96).
In ’91 I won the Joseph Award for best publication in the Society of Medical Laboratory Technology of South Africa (SMLTSA) Journal.

I then went on to established Blue Everest Medical in 2020.

Carol Collett (MTech Biomedical Sciences)
Managing Director