-
Egyptians practiced bloodletting, an act in which they believed bad blood resulted from illness could be drained out.
-
Greeks discovered the difference between arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood FROM the heart TO tissues of the body, while veins carry blood TO the heart FROM tissues of the body.
-
Anton van Leeuwenhoek viewed blood cells for the first time under a microscope.
-
The first blood transfusion was performed. Blood transfusion is when one person gives their blood to another.
-
Karl Landsteiner discovered the 3 blood types A, B, and O.
-
Alfred Decastello discovered the fourth blood type, blood type AB.
-
Percy Oliver created the first blood donor service.
-
Mayo Clinic developed a process to better store blood for the use of transfusions.
-
Dr. Bernard Fantus established the first blood bank. A blood bank is a building that takes in donors and stores blood to give to those who need it.
-
Karl Landsteiner discovered the Rh protein in blood types, which determined blood to be negative or positive.
-
The first case of aids was recorded in the Congo.
-
Robert Gallo identified the virus behind the outbreak of aids.
-
The ELISA test was developed to screen people and detect traces of HIV.
-
Scientists then (and still today) began to focus on making tests that could detect many more types of infectious diseases.
