Days Until World Blood Donor Day

About World Blood Donor Day

June 14 marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, born in 1868, the scientist who discovered the ABO blood group system in 1900 — a discovery that made safe blood transfusion possible and earned him a Nobel Prize.

The World Health Organization has coordinated the observance since 2004, aiming to raise awareness of the need for safe blood donation and to thank voluntary blood donors worldwide.

The WHO estimates blood donations from unpaid, voluntary donors are essential to maintaining safe blood supplies worldwide, and the day specifically honors donors alongside marking Landsteiner's underlying scientific discovery.

The WHO recommends specific eligibility windows between donations to protect donor health, and blood type compatibility rules Landsteiner discovered remain the foundation of every transfusion safety protocol used today.

The WHO specifically promotes voluntary, unpaid blood donation as the safest model for maintaining national blood supplies, citing research suggesting paid-donation systems carry a higher risk of donors concealing relevant health information.