History of Blood Banking

Science

First Reported Successful Transfusion

1667

Sheep Blood to Humans

Attempts to transfuse milk from Goats, Cows and Humans

1873 - 1880

Saline replaces Milk

1884

First 3 Blood Groups Identified

1901

Rh Blood type discovered

1939 - 1940

Regulation

National Blood Collection Organized

1940

System

1949

US blood collection system is comprised of 1500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers and 31 American Red Cross centers.

Establishment of National Blood Clearinghouse

1956

AABB begins Inspecting Blood Banks

1957

Rare Blood Donor Registry Established

1967

Move toward all volunteer donation system

1970

FDA requires units to be labeled as paid or volunteer.

1978

Additive allows shelf life to be extended to 42 days

1983

Laboratory Testing

Testing for Blood Groups and Crossmatching Begins

1907

ABO typing and syphillis screening done on each unit

1947

Donor units are tested for Hepatitis B antigen

1971

Donor units are first screened for HIV

1985

Donor Units screened for HIV 1 and HIV 2

1991