blood transfusion: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Sep. 25, 2026

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Blood transfusion

Illustration of a blood vessel with a cutaway view showing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, each labeled to highlight the main components of blood.

Several blood bags filled with human blood, labeled with barcodes and volume information, are lined up in storage.

Know the process of how blood donation works and its significance

How frozen blood saved lives during the Vietnam War

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Topics

direct match test exchange transfusion autologous transfusion transfusion-related acute lung injury hemolytic transfusion reaction platelet transfusion Today in History—June 15: The First Blood Transfusion The Strange, Grisly History of the First Blood Transfusion therapeutics regenerative medicine transplant dentistry surgery recreation therapy oxygen therapy physical medicine and rehabilitation prosthesis leeching gene therapy immunotherapy

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Key People

Portrait painting of physician Charles Drew in a white coat, seated at a desk with a microscope, holding a notebook, against a plain background. Painted by Betsy Graves Reyneau.

Charles Richard Drew

American physician

Karl von Gräfe, engraving by G. Metzeroth, c. 1845, after a portrait by an unknown artist

Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe

German surgeon

3d illustration human heart. Adult Anatomy Aorta Black Blood Vessel Cardiovascular System Coronary Artery Coronary Sinus Front View Glowing Human Artery Human Heart Human Internal Organ Medical X-ray Myocardium

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Artificial lung ventilation monitor in the intensive care unit. Nurse with medical equipment. Ventilation of the lungs with oxygen. COVID-19 and coronavirus identification. Pandemic.

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