History of Blood

  • 2500 BCE

    Egyptians

    Egyptians used bloodletting to try to cure diseases
  • 1659 BCE

    Anton van Leeuwenhoek

    Anton van Leeuwenhoek viewed blood cells under a microscope
  • 500 BCE

    Greeks

    Greeks distinguished between arteries and veins
  • Blood Transfusion

    First blood transfusion performed
  • Karl Landsteiner

    Karl Landsteiner discovered three blood types: A, B, O
  • Alfred Decastello

    Alfred Decastello discovered fourth blood type: AB
  • Percy Oliver

    Percy Oliver established the first blood donor service
  • Mayo Clinic

    Mayo Clinic developed a method to store blood for transfusions
  • Dr. Bernard Fantus

    – Dr. Bernard Fantus established the first blood bank
  • Karl Landsteiner

    Karl Landsteiner discovered the Rh protein
  • AIDS

    First case of AIDS recorded in the Congo
  • Robert Gallo

    Robert Gallo identified the virus causing AIDS
  • ELISA

    Development of ELISA test to screen for diseases such as HIV
  • Blood-screening Test

    Scientists began developing blood-screening tests for infectious diseases