Transfusion medicine is a vital branch of medicine dedicated to the safe and effective use of blood and its components in patient care. It encompasses the collection, testing, processing, storage, and transfusion of blood products, as well as specialized procedures such as apheresis and stem cell collection. The field has evolved from early, often dangerous experiments to a highly regulated and technologically advanced discipline that saves millions of lives worldwide each year. Its progress has been shaped by key scientific discoveries—most notably the identification of blood groups, the development of blood banking, and advances in laboratory testing—that have continually improved safety and expanded therapeutic possibilities.
- 17th century (1665): Richard Lower performs the first recorded animal-to-animal blood transfusion in dogs.
- 1667: Jean-Baptiste Denis conducts the first human transfusions in France, using animal blood—early attempts are unsafe and soon banned.
- 1818: James Blundell in London performs the first successful human-to-human transfusion to treat postpartum hemorrhage.
- 1901: Karl Landsteiner discovers the ABO blood group system, revolutionizing transfusion safety.
- 1937: Bernard Fantus establishes the first hospital-based blood bank in Chicago, coining the term.
- 1940: Landsteiner and Wiener discover the Rh factor, crucial for compatibility testing.
- 1940s (WWII): Advances in blood storage, anticoagulants, and preservation enable large-scale blood transfusion programs for soldiers.
- 1950s–1960s: Development of plastic blood bags replaces glass bottles, making storage and handling safer and more practical.
- 1970s: Introduction of component therapy (separating red cells, plasma, and platelets) ensures targeted treatment rather than whole blood use.
- 1980s: Implementation of rigorous screening for infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B and C) dramatically increases transfusion safety.
- 1990s: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) reduces the diagnostic window for detecting viral infections, further improving safety.
- 2000s: Expansion of molecular typing for blood groups allows precise donor-recipient matching, especially in chronically transfused patients.
- 2010s: Emergence of pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) and growing research into artificial blood substitutes and lab-grown red blood cells.
- Present day: Integration of digital systems, molecular diagnostics, and advanced immunohematology is enhancing transfusion safety, personalization, and global accessibility.
