The Power of One – Saving Millions, One Donation at a Time
March 27, 2025
At API, our commitment to clinical proficiency testing ensures the highest standards in patient care. Every day, laboratories rely on accurate testing to guide critical medical decisions—none more so than in blood banking and transfusion medicine.
This past week, our team stepped beyond the lab and into the lifesaving process itself by hosting an API Employee Blood Drive. As we reflect on this effort, we’re reminded of just how vital blood donation is—and how one person can make an extraordinary impact.
One of the most inspiring examples of this is James Harrison, an Australian donor whose lifelong commitment to blood donation helped save 2.4 million babies.
The Man with the Golden Arm
James Harrison’s story is a testament to the power of blood donation. After undergoing major surgery at 14, he committed to giving blood as soon as he was eligible. What he didn’t realize at the time was that his blood contained a rare antibody—anti-D—that would later be used to create products to prevent Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), a life-threatening condition in newborns caused by Rh incompatibility.
For over 60 years, Harrison donated plasma every two weeks, helping create anti-D immunoglobulin therapy, which is now used worldwide to protect Rh-positive newborns born to Rh-negative mothers. Before this treatment existed, one in two babies diagnosed with HDFN did not survive.
Why Blood Banking and Testing Matter
Every day, medical laboratories test, crossmatch, and verify blood components to ensure safe transfusions. At API, we support these critical processes by providing proficiency testing for blood banks, helping laboratories maintain accuracy in:
✔ Blood type and antibody screening
✔ Crossmatching for transfusions
✔ Detecting rare blood disorders and incompatibilities
While James Harrison’s unique blood played a rare role in medicine, every donation matters. Blood donations help:
✔ Trauma and accident victims
✔ Patients undergoing surgery or cancer treatments
✔ Individuals with chronic blood disorders like sickle cell disease
API Employees Answer the Call
We are incredibly proud of our team members who participated in API’s recent blood drive. Their generosity reflects the same commitment to quality, accuracy, and patient safety that drives our work every day in clinical proficiency testing.
To all who donated—thank you for making a difference. Your contribution is part of a nationwide effort to ensure hospitals and blood banks have the supply they need.
James Harrison’s story reminds us that one person can save a life. At API, we’re proud to play a role in ensuring the quality and reliability of blood testing—because every drop counts.