History

Dr. Hugh Chaplin, was the first physician in charge of the blood bank when the Clinical Center opened for patients in 1953. The Blood Bank was under the supervision of the Laboratory of Biologics Control, which was part of the National Microbiology Institute. When the Institute opened, the facilities for the Blood Bank were not yet completed, so the Blood Bank opened in a single room up on the 7th floor nursing unit. The room had one blood storage refrigerator, 24 units of blood as inventory, one microscope and one laboratory technician. Within a few weeks the new facility opened in the basement of the Clinical Center. There were no windows but the facility was spacious with several refrigerators for blood storage, and multiple microscopes. Mobile blood collections were made from paid donors at the Dohme Blood Donor Center in Baltimore by Blood Bank staff that would pack up ice chests and drive to Baltimore a few times a week. Dr. Paul Schmidt became the new Chief in 1955 for the next 20 years and the Laboratory of Biologics, which became a laboratory of the FDA, turned control of the Blood Bank over to the NIH Clinical Center. During his tenure Schmidt established training programs for physician fellows and medical technologists. Many graduates of these ongoing programs have moved into positions of leadership across the country. In 1963 the blood bank moved to a new 1st floor circular building, described by many as a "fish bowl," and blood collections began on the NIH campus. A research program directed toward both immunohematology and transfusion-transmitted hepatitis developed during these years. and clinical studies led by Dr. Harvey J. Alter proved critical in moving the nation to an all-volunteer blood supply. At Schmidt's retirement in 1974, Dr. Paul Holland was appointed Chief. During the next decade the department developed a nationally recognized program in automated blood collection (apheresis), tissue typing (HLA), and an international reputation for research studies of red cell serology and hepatitis. Dr. Harvey G. Klein became Chief in 1984. In that year, the Department became the first in the nation to assume the name, Department of Transfusion Medicine, in recognition of the broad range of clinical, research, and educational activities beyond the traditional scope of blood banking. In 1991 the department moved to it's present state-of-the-art facility where it continues to perform cutting edge research, service and education and is recognized as one of the world's leaders in transfusion medicine.

Contact Information: call 301-496-4506, or E-mail:
nihbloodbank@mail.cc.nih.gov