Timeline / History Section
1492: Pope Innocent VIII, in Rome, had an apoplectic stroke; became weak and went into a coma. His physician advised a Blood transfusion as a therapeutic measure for the Pope's illness. Employing crude methods, the Pope did not benefit and died by the end of that year.
1615: Andreas Libavius described his technique of Blood transfusion. It was unfortunately not adequately publicized.
1628: William Harvey discovers circulation of blood and experiments with transfusions from animals to humans.
1818: Dr James Blundell, an obstetrician, realises blood must be transfused within the same species. Some successful transfusions.
1900: Dr Karl Landsteiner discovers blood groups, thus paving the way for modern transfusion medicine.
Beginning of SNBTS
1930: John Copland, an Edinburgh dentist, establishes first Scottish donor panel after a friend's wife dies tragically for lack of a suitable donor. This is the beginning of what later becomes the SNBTS. John Copland goes on to become the first Donor Organiser of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Association or SNBTA.
1940: SNBTA formally comes into existence with five Regional Transfusion Services. Financially independent until founding of NHS in 1948.
Early 1940s: around 20,000 donations per year in Scotland.
1943: donations rise by 43,000 to 57,000 in one year alone through wartime effort and introduction of mobile teams.
Late 1940s: demands from civilian hospitals increases with growing importance of blood in maternity work and burns units - 50s, 60s and 70s
1950s: it becomes possible to separate blood into its different components, greatly aiding patient care.
1951: blood donor badges introduced
1960: the first kidney transplant is carried out at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
1960s: plastic collection bags revolutionise the Blood Transfusion Service. It is now possible to separate red cells and plasma without any risk of bacterial contamination. Red cells can be stored for up to four weeks, compared to just 12 hours previously.
1973: the first mobile donating centre is introduced.
1974: management of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is transferred to the Common Services Agency of the National Health Service.
1975: the Protein Fractionation Centre opens in Edinburgh. It processes 15,000 litres of blood plasma. By 1993 this rises to over 71 tonnes.
1980s and 1990s
1985: testing for the antibody to HIV introduced.
1990: the SNBTS celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The European Plasma Fraction Association was established. Hepatitis C testing introduced in 1991.
1992:SNBTS brought first UK fibrin sealant product to clinical trials. 17 year olds permitted by law to donate without the need for parental consent. SNBTS discovers Hepatitis C variant. New computer-readable donor identification cards replaced the traditional registration books in 1993.
1996-97: the SNBTS introduces a stem cell service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary to help the treatment of cancer patients.