Blood, ideology, science and the birth of the ISBT

Abstract

The ISBT / SITS was founded at the second international congress of blood transfusion in Paris in 1937. The world was influenced heavily by totalitarian ideologies, which a.o. tried to use science to confirm their superiority. The Nazi ideology was built on peculiar speculations on human blood, race and heritage, but although similar ideas were widespread, our society was founded as a purely scientific organization independent of ideological influence. The designation ‘International’ initially signified ‘European’, but after the end of World War 2, our society has become more and more of a global one.