From animal experiments to saving lives: a history of blood transfusions

Here we look at how blood transfusions started as an experiment four centuries ago, and became a modern-day life saver.

 Hospitals Around The World Have A Dire Shortage Of Blood

Blood has long been a rare commodity across much of Africa, Tagny says, both because there's a lack of public awareness about the need for non-emergency donations — blood drives at college campuses, churches or community centers are infrequent — and a lack of cold-storage facilities to keep and distribute what little blood is available, particularly in rural clinics, where the blood supply is even more limited than in urban hospital settings.

 It's Safe To Donate Blood During The Coronavirus Pandemic. Hospitals Wish You Would

Individuals are not at risk of contracting coronavirus through the blood donation process or through blood transfusion, according to AABB, a nonprofit that represents the blood transfusion field.

 Questioning ‘the Newer the Better’ for Blood Transfusions

Fresh blood transfusions may be no better than blood that has been stored for several weeks, a new study found.

First Blood Transfusion: A History

The world’s first experiments with blood transfusion occurred in the mid-1660s in England. The procedure, which was first carried out between dogs, was gruesome:

History of Blood Transfusion

From the 1600s to the present.

Ageing research: Blood to blood

By splicing animals together, scientists have shown that young blood rejuvenates old tissues. Now, they are testing whether it works for humans.

Alternatives to blood transfusions

Because transfusions carry risks and because the blood supply is limited, doctors try not to transfuse if they can avoid it. In some cases, options other than blood product transfusions may be available.

An Alternative To Blood Transfusions For Resource-Strapped Developing Countries

Take something as seemingly commonplace as a blood transfusion for a patient who is hemorrhaging. In places like Sub-Saharan Africa, where there aren’t facilities for safe storage or testing of donated blood, medical professionals often salvage the patient’s own blood with a kitchen soup ladle and filter it with gauze. The result: many unnecessary deaths.

Artificial blood 'will be manufactured in factories'

Wellcome Trust-funded stem cell research has produced red blood cells fit for transfusion into humans, paving the way for the mass production of blood.

Better blood transfusions developed on the battlefield

The new mix, known as 1-1-1 for its balanced blood product ratios, more effectively combats the impact of blood loss and uncontrolled bleeding, the researchers reported.

Cutting the Risk of Tainted Platelets

According to a CDC report, most blood-collection centers culture only apheresis platelets and release the unit after culture. Hospital transfusion services are responsible for bacterial testing of platelets derived from donated whole blood. Because pooling is performed immediately before transfusion, culture-based tests are logistically difficult and costly to implement for whole-blood-derived platelets, the report says.

Doctors have done a complete 180 on one of the most common procedures in America

The most common medical procedure performed for patients hospitalized in the US in 2011 was a blood transfusion But evidence is mounting that a substantial portion of blood transfusions are not necessary. That means some patients are taking on risks and costs for a procedure that isn't really helping them.

How Doctors Keep Jehovah’s Witnesses Alive When They Refuse Blood Transfusions

Here are some techniques medical professionals employ when faced with a Jehovah's Witness patient who refuses a transfusion when he or she is in dire need of one.

Medicine, Murder And The History of Transfusion

In her new book "Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution, Vanderbilt University professor Holly Tucker tells the sometimes gory history of blood transfusions, a practice that she says began before doctors knew anything about blood types or immunology.

Shining a Light on the Safety of Blood Transfusions

Kuehnert says the U.S. is one of the only developed countries not to have a national transfusion reporting and safety system.

The Rising Risk of a Contaminated Blood Supply

Amid new pathogens and cost pressures, efforts are under way to keep patients safe.

Your Blood Type is a Lot More Complicated Than You Think

With hundreds of possible antigens and millions of possible antigen combinations, your blood can be as unique as your fingerprint.