The artificial blood is created by extracting hemoglobin — a protein containing iron that facilitates the transportation of oxygen in red blood cells — from expired donor blood. It is then encased in a protective shell to create stable, virus-free artificial red blood cells. As these artificial cells have no blood type, there is no need for compatibility testing. The synthetic blood can reportedly be stored for up to two years at room temperature and five years under refrigeration.
They’re getting the hemoglobin from expired donor blood.
So presumably, we can use real blood until it expires and then process the expired blood to extend its usefulness for up to 5 years.
This is already a massive improvement.
Any mammal blood contains hemoglobin. Think about that.
Damn.
They’re winning the Nobel for this.
If it works, it will be one of the most deserved ones.
Agreed. Shelf-stable blood by itself is a massive win for medicine.
Shelf-stable universal donor blood from abundant sources is nothing short of a fucking miracle.