Artificial Blood Substitute Registered In S.A.

LtCmdr.Com writes "The first blood "substitute" (it's actually an oxygen-transport fluid) has been registered for use in South Africa. This is a great idea, especially with the HIV rate around here. The relevant links: SABC, BBC." Their artificial blood is actually made from cow hemoglobin, so it's not quite as artificial as I was hoping, but it offers the advantage of greater shelf life and smaller risk of infection with human diseases than donated blood, according to the manufacturer.

Comments

Re:Trans-species diseases?

[Grootvoet]

If you read the article on the SABC website you will see that the solution should not transmit bovine diseases to humans. More important then foot and mouth disease, which actually is not that dangerous to humans the Mad Cow disease should also not be considered as a potential threath this disease is actually believed to be dangerous for humans.

It does seem like a good blood substitute in certain situation alhtough I forsee problems if implemented as a "normal" transfusion fluid since there are religions that would forbid the use of this substitute. All in all it seems like a good idea, my only wonder is will this blood also clog (spelled right ?) and if so do the bloodtypes that apply to humans apply to cows ?


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