History of blood services - 1990's

Radical growth, change and consolidation in the 1990s saw the merger of Australia's state-based blood services into a national organisation to lead Australia through the ever-complex world of blood and blood products.

Australia becomes the second country in the world to screen all donated blood for the Hepatitis C virus.

Picture: Leonard McQuade makes his 225th donation, 1992.
Courtesy of The Age.

National Blood Donor Week is established to raise public awareness and recognise donors.

-The first donor centre inside a shopping centre opens in Townsville, Queensland.

-The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories are privatised and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

State and Territory blood services are amalgamated to form the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

Picture: Dr Robert Hetzel (left), first CEO and John Hasker, first chairman of the Blood Service, 1996