Blood Timeline

By Jon Charles
  • 2500 BCE

    2500 B.C.

    2500 B.C.
    Egyptians used bloodletting to try to cure diseases
  • 500 BCE

    500 B.C.

    500 B.C.
    Greeks distinguished between arteries and veins

  • 1659 A.D.

    1659 A.D.
    Anton van Leeuwenhoek viewed blood cells under a microscope

  • 1795

    1795
    First blood transfusion performed

  • 1901

    1901
    Karl Landsteiner discovered three blood types: A, B, O

  • 1902

    1902
    Alfred Decastello discovered fourth blood type: AB

  • 1922

    1922
    Percy Oliver established the first blood donor service

  • 1935

    1935
    Mayo Clinic developed a method to store blood for transfusions

  • 1937

    1937
    Dr. Bernard Fantus established the first blood bank

  • 1940

    1940
    Karl Landsteiner discovered the Rh protein

  • 1959

    1959
    First case of AIDS recorded in the Congo

  • 1984

    1984
    Robert Gallo identified the virus causing AIDS

  • 1985

    1985
    Development of ELISA test to screen for diseases such as HIV

  • 1987

    1987
    Scientists began developing blood-screening tests for infectious diseases