-
2500 BCE
Bloodletting
Egyptians used bloodletting, removing one's blood and transferring it, to try and cure diseases. -
500 BCE
Discovery of Veins and Arteries
Greels distringueshed a difference between veins and arteries. Arteries carry blood that contain oxygen, towards the muscles.
Veins carry blood that have already used the oxygen, and push the blood back to the heart to be reused. -
Looking Up Close
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek used a microscope to view blood cells up close. -
Transfusion
The first blood transfusion was conducted.
A blood transfusion is when you take someone's donated blood, and transfer it to another person. -
Discovery of Blood Types
Karl Landsteiner discovered types: A, B, and O -
Additional Blood Types Discovered
Alfred Decastello discovered type AB blood. -
Donating Services
Percy Oliver established the first donor service -
Blood Transfusion Storage
Mayo Clinic developed a way to store blood for transfusions. -
Blood Banks
Dr. Bernard Fantus established the first blood bank. -
Rh Protiens
Karl Landsteiner discovered the Rh proteins. The Rh discovery had immediate practical importance because it explained a relatively common medical disorder known as "Erythroblastosis Fetalis" -
AIDS
The first case of AIDS was recorded in the Congo. HIV (Human Immunodificiency Virus) attacks cells in the immune system that destroys a type of white blood cells called a T-Helper cell, and makes copies of itself inside these cells. AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a set of symptoms caused by HIV. A person s said to have AIDS when their immune system is to comprimised to fight off infections, and they develop certain defining symptoms and illnesses. This will lead to death. -
Cause of AIDS
Robert Gallo identified the virus that causes aids. -
ELISA Testing
The development of a new test called ELISA ( Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) to screen for diseases such as HIV by detecting and measuring antibodies in blood. -
Personal Testing
Scientists began developing blood-screening tests for infectious diseases.