How close are scientists to producing artificial blood?

Scientists are exploring the production of artificial blood amid shortages of blood and the need for safe transfusions.Millions of people die globally each year due to lack of access to blood, studies by the World Health Organisation (WHO) have shown.Laboratory-grown blood was used on humans in the first clinical trial in 2022, particularly in patients with rare blood groups.Scientists are also working to develop synthetic blood as part of efforts to support emergency medicine, surgery and transfusions.Artificial blood is a broad term that includes both lab-grown and synthetic blood.Once available, lab-grown blood cells could make the treatment of certain medical cases more effective, Cedric Ghevaert, professor of transfusion medicine at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, said. Lab-grown or synthetic blood products are currently only in the research and development stage.More trials would be needed before this product could be medically approved for commercial use.Additionally, producing lab-grown blood is currently much more expensive than using donated blood.Urgent need Artificial blood has the potential to alleviate global blood shortages, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, experts say.According to the WHO, approximately 118.5 million blood donations are collected worldwide, with 40% gathered in high-income countries, which comprise only 16% of the global population.Recent studies also show that nearly 2 000 units of blood per 100 000 people are needed to meet global medical demands, yet severe shortages persist, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Oceania.In these regions, where blood supply is critically low, mortality rates from haemorrhage are significantly higher than in wealthier nations.Rural communities in low- and middle-income countries are hardest hit, forming “blood deserts” – areas where more than 75 percent of patients needing transfusions cannot access blood.Ghevaert said one of the key advantages of lab-grown blood would also be its value in crisis situations, such as pandemics, wars or natural disasters when there is a sudden surge in demand.

How close are scientists to producing artificial blood?

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-12

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How close are scientists to producing artificial blood?

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-12

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