Highlights in Transfusion Medicine History

Here is a continuation of important milestones in transfusion medicine:

• Early 1980s
  With the growth of component therapy, products for coagulation disorders and plasma exchange for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, hospital and community blood banks enter the era of transfusion medicine, in which doctors trained specifically in blood transfusion actively participate in patient care.
  
  
• 1983
  Additive solutions extend the shelf life of red blood cells to 42 days.
  
  
• 1985
  The first blood screening test to detect HIV is licensed and quickly implemented by blood banks to protect the blood supply.
  
  
• 1987
  Two tests for screening the indirect evidence of hepatitis C are developed and implemented, Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBC) and the alanine aminotransferase test (ALT).
  
  
• 1989
  Human T Lymphotropic Virum I antibody (anti-HTLV-I) testing of donated blood begins.
  
  
• 1990
  Introduction of first specific test for Hepatitis C, the major cause of "non-A, non-B" hepatitis, although the Hepatitis C virus has never been isolated.
  
  
• 1992
  Testing of donor blood for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies (anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2) is implemented.
  
  
• 1996
  HIV p24 antigen testing of donated blood begins. Although the test does not completely close the HIV window, it shortens the window period.
  
  
• 1997
  US Government issues two reports requiring increased efforts to improve blood safety, including regulatory reform and new measures to reduce risk from blood transfusions.

This feature is now concluded.

Information taken from the website of American Association of Blood Banks.