Blood Substitutes

Abstract

Although the need for an alternative to red cells for transfusion has been recognised since the initial description of the circulation of the blood by William Harvey in 1628, there is still no approved product available to clinicians. Recent concern over the safety of human blood has stimulated a renewed interest in finding alternatives to transfusion of red cells. Two types of solutions, those based on perfluorocarbons and those based on haemoglobin are currently being aggressively developed.