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2500 BCE
Egyptians: Bloodletting
In 2500 B.C., Egyptians used bloodletting to try to cure diseases. Bloodletting is when a doctor removes blood from a patient to cure an illness. -
500 BCE
Greeks: Arteries and Veins
Greeks distinguished between arteries and veins in 500 B.C. They determined that arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to various parts of the body. They also determined that veins carry deoxygenated blood toward the heart. -
Anton van Leeuwenhoek: Microscopic View
Leeuwenhoek was the first to view blood cells under a microscope. -
Physick: Blood Transfusion
Philip Syng Physick performed the first blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is the act of transferring donated blood, blood products, and other fluid into the circulatory system of a person. He is best known as the "Father of American Surgery." -
Karl Landsteiner: ABO
Karl Landsteiner discovered three blood types: A, B, O. -
Alfred Decastello: AB
Alfred Decastello discovered the fourth blood type: AB. -
Percy Oliver: Donor Service
Percy Oliver established the first blood donor service. -
Mayo Clinic: Store Blood for Transfusions
Mayo Clinic developed a method to store blood for transfusions. -
Dr. Bernard Fantus: First Blood Bank
Dr. Bernard Fantus established the first blood bank. -
Karl Landsteiner: Rh
Karl Landsteiner discovered the Rh protein. -
First case of AIDS
First case of AIDS recorded in the Congo -
Robert Gallo: Virus causing AIDS
Robert Gallo identified the virus causing AIDS. -
ELISA Test
Development of ELISA test to screen for diseases such as HIV. -
Blood-Screening Tests
Scientists began developing blood-screening tests for infectious diseases.
