[lolofox]

I'm new to NoBlood.org. having learned about it via yesterday's article in the Los Angeles Times.

Several companies, including Synthetic Blood International, are in FDA trials to create a blood substitute. Would the use of such a blood substitute be acceptable to those in this community?

As background, here are the basics on Synthetic Blood's product Oxycyte which is now in Phase II FDA trials:

Oxycyte is an oxygen-carrying intravenous emulsion that can carry five times more oxygen than hemoglobin, making it an effective means of transporting oxygen to tissues and carbon dioxide to the lungs for disposal. New applications of oxygen therapeutic agents include stroke, myocardial infarction, and certain malignant diseases.

So...what do you think?

Thanks in advance.

[dgucwa]

All options are good to discuss. The hemoglobin based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are interesting. They are made from old human or cow blood in which they extract the hemoglobin protein out in order to make the HBOC. Some might have religious objections to that while others might not. That is why discussion is good so all facts are presented and the person can make an informed decision.
As for totally synthetic oxygen carriers, there might not be a religious objection but we advise all to obtain facts first.

[lolofox]

Oxycyte is a perflourocarbon-based product. Here's a description taken from one of the scientific studies that can be found on the compny's website (sybd.com):

Oxycyte™ is a new intravenous (IV) perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsion that has been developed as a temporary blood substitute and therapeutic oxygen carrier. It has been formulated with a PFC selected to make a stable, sub-micron emulsion. This PFC has demonstrated in screening animal studies a favorable safety profile compared to other PFC’s undergoing testing, and it does not pose the risk of ozone depletion due to the presence of bromine or chlorine.

There are other companies attempting to develop blood substites. Indeed, one is based on outdated human blood and another is based on bovine blood. Oxycyte, however, is based upon perflourocarbons.