The Third Decade

1984-1993

During NYBC’s third decade, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of Communism in Europe. NYBC continued to expand focusing our research efforts on HIV and hepatitis.

  • 1984
    • Total Blood Collections reach 772,359 units with Euroblood supplying 289,735 units (the largest number of Euroblood units provided due to the AIDS crisis).
    • NYBC's Transfusion Medicine Training program continues to train physicians now responsible for training 30% of transfusion medicine professionals in our region's hospitals. High school and undergrad college students also receive training from a grant by the Department of Health and Human Services.
  • 1985
    • Public health officials estimate 1 - 1.5 million Americans are infected with AIDS with an estimated 3% of AIDS cases due to transfusion related incidents.

    • NYBC introduces confidential self exclusion for all blood donors, pioneered by Dr. Johanna Pindyck. Procedure becomes a global model that impacts blood safety during a critical time of AIDS related concerns and fears.
    • Eight major AIDS research projects by NYBC are funded with grants totaling $2 million dollars.

    • Solvent Detergent Viral Inactivation – a process to inactivate the viruses of hepatitis B, hepatitis non-A and HIV in plasma is approved by the FDA in manufacturing plasma based products at Melville Biologics, the Blood Derivatives Program at NYBC.
  • 1986
    • Revenues pass the $100 million dollar mark with 95% coming from providing blood products and services to hospitals.

    • Total blood collections at 816,870 with a record distribution of 1,258,253 units of blood and components.
  • 1990
    • NYBC develops SAFEBLOOD, the first laboratory management system to improve blood safety.

    • FDA approves license for NYBC's patented process to inactivate viruses in Factor VIII products for hemophilia patients (SD) solvent detergent treated factor VIII.
    • Transfusion Medicine course developed for pathology and hematology residents.
    • Gallon Club Donor Recognition Program developed to recognize frequent donors.

  • 1991
    • NYBC’s Clinical Services group triples the number of PAT (Perioperative Autologous Transfusion) procedures from 250 to 830, reducing usage of donated blood in surgery by capturing and returning the patient’s blood. Over 5.000 procedures now performed annually.
    • NYBC develops patented technology and conducts clinical trials for universal Type O blood converted from Type B blood.
    • NYBC processes over 400,000 liters of plasma processed for the production of albumin, gamma globulin and Factor VIII.

    • NYBC's Education Department develops first foreign certification in transfusion medicine.
  • 1987
    • NIH and Government grants total $5.4 million dollars for research projects with Foundation and Corporate grants of $1.6 million dollars.

  • 1988

    • NYBC focuses on strengthening services under the leadership of John S. Reed of Citibank as Chairman of the NYBC Board of Trustees.
  • 1992
    • Laboratory of Epidemiology launches a 3 year study (spearheaded by Dr. Beryl Koblin) relative to the efficiency of HIV-1 vaccine trials.
    • Research progress by Dr. Pablo Rubinstein continues in the therapeutic use of stem cells harvested from umbilical cord blood in work supported by a grant from NIH. 
  • 1993
    • Total blood collections of 725,534 pints are supported by 214,360 Euroblood units.
    • NYBC continues identification of blood group antigens and clones gene that determines the Duffy blood group and Xg antigen. New insights into autoimmune disease and malaria prevention emerge.
    • Therapeutic Apheresis procedures exchanging plasma and blood components in patients with blood disorders increased by 13% to 915 procedures.
  • 1989

    John Adamson, MD succeeds Aaron Kellner, MD as New York Blood Center’s 2nd President and CEO.