News 2011

Australian stem cells scientists, among the world’s pioneers in the development of artificial blood, announced it will be a while yet before donors are no longer needed at the blood bank. The critical task for the scientists is growing new red blood cells. Lars Nielsen, professor of Biological Engineering at the University of Queensland, heads a group that grows red blood cells from umbilical cord stem cells with great results.
Dr Nielsen said that the blood that we get from one single cord blood collection from a baby has enough potential to make 10.000 units (450ml each) of red blood cells. One umbilical cord blood collection will replace 10.000 visits to blood Bank.
More than each patient will use its own blood without any fear of complications or transmission of contaminated diseases.  The same group goes forward as producing white blood cells that are part of our immune system, from cord blood stem cells. Chemotherapy patients, having very low white blood cells count,   often die from infections and they should be benefited from this invention.
Recently a lot of discussions have made, if a small need of blood transfusion is finally for good or no to the patient. There is an increase rate of mortality in cardio surgery or neurosurgery patients or stroke attacked  after two blood transfusions, shortly after the operation. Old blood is involved in these complications. For this reason it is not recommended the transfusion until two units in the case that the patient’s life is not in threat, like bleeding or accidents.  Big hospitals in USA advertise that are free of transfusion and in the case of serious operations that blood transfusion will be needed, they encourage the patients to create a small personal blood bank with  its own blood, a few weeks prior the operation. Autologous blood transfusion decreases the complication and the mortality of the patients after serious operations.  

University of Queensland Australia Prof Lars Nielsen   August 29, 2010