Singapore Med J 2013; 54(5): 243-244; http://dx.doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2013099
Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943): Originator of ABO blood classification
Tan SY, Graham C
Correspondence: Prof Tan Siang Yong, siang@hawaii.edu
SUMMARY
Imagine practising medicine without access to blood transfusions. It was Karl Landsteiner, a 1930 Nobel laureate, who classified human blood into groups based on the presence of naturally occurring agglutinating antibodies, and whose findings eventually established safe transfusion procedures. Prior to his discovery, patients in need of blood received transfusions from animals such as sheep or randomly selected human donors – usually with disastrous consequences. Landsteiner’s discovery literally saved millions of human lives.
Singapore Med J 2013; 54(5): 243-244; http://dx.doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2013099
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