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The History of Blood Banks

In the USA in the 1930s and 1940s the interest in blood transfusions and blood banking increased dramatically in the medical field. This was because during and after World War II, American doctors abroad on the front line saw the effectiveness of blood transfusions firsthand. When they returned home, they pushed for an efficient system of blood banking and transfusions for their own patients.

  1. The First Blood Banks

    • The first U.S. blood bank was established in Chicago's Cook County Hospital in 1937 by Bernard Fantus, who opened a facility that was able to save and store donated blood. In the following years, blood banks began to open up all over the USA; initially in San Francisco at the Irwin Memorial Blood Bank and also in Miami and New York. Soon after in 1940, the U.S. government implemented a nationwide program to collect blood.

    American Association of Blood Banks and the American Red Cross

    • In 1947, the American Association of Blood Banks, now known as the AABB, was formed to support the growing blood bank community and encourage blood-related research. According to them, the blood bank community had now grown to 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood banks and 31 American Red Cross blood banks. In 1948, the American Red Cross, established by Dr. Charles Drew, began a system to collect and distribute blood to those in need.

    Plastic Blood Bag

    • In 1953, the plastic blood bag was invented by the Fenwal Co., according to America's Blood Centers. This was a very important landmark in the history of blood banks as it made the use and transportation of blood much easier and convenient. By replacing easily breakable glass bottles with the durable plastic bags, blood banks could now safely split and store the different components of blood; one single unit of blood could be used to treat multiple recipients.

    America's Blood Centers

    • By 1962, America's blood banks had grown to 4,400 hospital blood banks, 123 community blood banks and 55 American Red Cross blood banks. During this time the nonprofit America's Blood Centers network was established with the help of hospitals, doctors, local civic groups and community-based blood centers. Its goals were the support and encouragement of community-first based banking and medical expertise in blood banking and transfusion.

    Modern Blood Banking

    • By 1970, blood banks were using a volunteer donating system; approximately 5 to 6 million units of blood per year were being collected. In 1985, HIV blood screening was introduced and blood banks began using the technique to ensure the safety of blood transfusions. Modern-day blood screening involves testing for hepatitis and West Nile virus to ensure a high level of safety for the recipient of donated blood.

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