Karl Landsteiner: The Father of Blood Transfusion & Blood Groups

Karl Landsteiner, Alexander S Wiener and Philip Levine

Karl Landsteiner: An Austrian physician and immunologist, Karl Landsteiner is widely recognized as the "father of blood transfusion" for his groundbreaking work on blood groups and the ABO blood group system. In 1900-1901, he discovered that human blood can be classified into different groups based on the presence or absence of specific antigens on red blood cells. This discovery laid the foundation for safe blood transfusions by ensuring compatibility between donors and recipients.

Alexander S Wiener and Philip Levine: American scientists Alexander S Wiener and Philip Levine made a significant contribution to the field of blood banking by identifying the Rh factor, a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. In 1937, they discovered that incompatibility between Rh-positive and Rh-negative individuals could lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as Rh incompatibility, particularly in pregnant women. This led to the development of Rh testing and the prevention of Rh-related hemolytic disease of the newborn.