The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization is the highest and only decision-making authority in the field of supplying and distributing healthy blood and blood products in Iran. During the Iran-Iraq War, it played a crucial role in providing the blood needed to treat wounded soldiers.

The modern era of blood transfusion began in 1613 with the discovery of the circulatory system by the British physician William Harvey. The first recorded transfusion was performed in June 1668 by Jean Denis, who transfused sheep’s blood into a fifteen-year-old boy, followed by several similar attempts. However, after infectious complications and abnormal reactions were observed, the European Parliament banned transfusion in 1678. The field advanced again after Karl Landsteiner discovered blood groups in 1900, turning transfusion into a central topic in medical science.⁠[1]

In Iran, blood transfusions were carried out sporadically in hospitals before 1952. That year, the “Army Blood Bank” was established by Muhammad-Ali Shams, and the blood transfusion center of Red Lion and Sun Society was opened by Ahmad Azhir.⁠[2]

Located next to Dar al-Fonoun School on Nasser Khosrow Street in Tehran, the first independent transfusion center - Red Lion and Sun Society – was opened in on February 4, 1963, a date that was subsequently designated as “National Day of Blood Donation”.⁠[3]

In 1971, As the population grew and demand for blood products increased, Dr. Fereydoun Ala proposed creating the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. It was registered on December 22, 1972, and officially began work on July 31, 1974. New centers were later established in Shiraz (1977) and in Mashhad and Ahvaz (1978).⁠[4] Initially, all the expenses of this organization were provided from the budget of the whole country in the form of aid. In 1979, following a general revision of the country’s budget, the Blood Transfusion Organization became a government agency affiliated with the Ministry of Health and became subject to the government’s general regulations.⁠[5]

With the beginning of the Iran–Iraq War and the increasing need for blood in the country, the activities of the organization grew significantly. Furthermore, the Red Crescent Society also played a key role in blood supply by establishing a joint relief and treatment committee, contributing not only through medical and emergency aid efforts but also actively participating in the provision of blood. All blood used in Iran has been supplied through voluntary public donation.⁠[6]

Early in the war in 1981, 2,187 blood units were sent to warzones, including 1850 to Ahvaz, 191 to Abadan, 73 to Ilam, and 73 to Kermanshah.⁠[7] Regional centers also contributed by sending blood to Tehran for redistribution. For instance, in May 1981, the Mashhad blood center supplied 1,562 units of whole blood to hospitals in Khorasan Province while also sending 202 units of whole blood, 45 units of packed red blood cells, and 324 units of other blood products to Tehran.⁠[8]

New collection bases were set up in cities like Behbahan, Dezful, Andimeshk, Khorramshahr, and Abadan.

Researchers at the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization also produced antisera for blood typing and anti-tetanus immunoglobulin, increasing the range of blood-related medical products available domestically to 28 types. The antisera for determining blood groups and Rh factor (the hereditary protein on the surface of red blood cells), and tetanus immunoglobulin (a class of biological molecules active in the immune system) were also produced.

In April 1982, public participation was so strong that the organization temporarily asked people to pause donations due to surplus supply. Furthermore, the cooperation between the Red Crescent Society and the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization in blood collection and equipping their blood banks became particularly evident in late 1982.⁠[9]

On October 7, 1982, the first legislation formally establishing the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization was passed.⁠[10] The tireless round-the-clock efforts of the organization personnel, combined with widespread public enthusiasm for blood donation in 1983–1984, ensured the supply of blood not only for civilian patients and the wounded but also for the fighters on the frontlines. Despite the opening of ten provincial blood transfusion centers during this period, Tehran continued to provide most of the nation’s blood needs.⁠[11]

In 1984, with the approval of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization was announced as the sole custodian of blood supply and blood products in Iran.⁠[12] After the approval of the Articles of Association, to form the executive structure of the organization, three deputies of “production and technical”, “research and education”, and “administration and finance” were designed and implemented. The organization is governed by a five-member High Council composed of experts selected by the Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education.⁠[13]

By 1985, the Iranians had donated 488,956 units of blood, of which more than one-third—175,299 units—was donated by the people of Tehran, with Friday congregational worshippers in Tehran among the major contributors. Among religious minorities, the country’s Armenian community also donated blood for the war effort. The year 1986 also witnessed popular turnout for voluntary blood donation, as people from Kerman, Khuzestan, Mazandaran, Tehran, and Ilam actively and continuously supported the blood needs of the frontlines. In the seventh year of the war, all of the country’s blood requirements—particularly those of the warfronts—were fully met through voluntary blood donations by the public. This widespread contribution was not limited to major cities; people from every city across the country actively participated. For instance, in a single day, 210 teachers and students from Sarvestan County (Fars Province) donated blood.

In the final months of the war, Iran experienced a massive wave of public enthusiasm for blood donation to support the frontlines. Notable examples included voluntary blood donations by the Student Basij and students of the Gendarmerie Military Sciences Faculty at the time. To maintain readiness, the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization created a list of emergency donors willing to give blood at short notice.⁠[14]

After the war, the Tehran Blood Transfusion Center—the country’s largest—was established in February 10, 1989.⁠[15] The National Blood Supply Network Plan was implemented in 1995. Under this plan, the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization restructured its operations into nine regional educational bases to implement the programs and duties developed at the central headquarters.

Today, 206 blood service centers operate across Iran. Every province has a blood transfusion center (base) equipped with dedicated sections for screening tests on donated blood, blood component preparation, and quality control. In addition, 35 counties across the country have their own blood transfusion centers, fully equipped to perform all necessary processes for blood component preparation and screening tests. Each and every donated blood unit undergoes thorough screening for infections, specifically including Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Serological testing for syphilis (syphilis serology), etc.⁠[16]