Fresh blood 'could have much longer shelf life'
Thursday 24th February 2011
Fresh blood used for transfusions could have a longer shelf life than is currently thought, researchers have found.
Research, conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, found that blood retains its clotting properties for at least 11 days using started refrigeration - much longer than the current shelf life of 24 to 48 hours.
The research, published in journal Transfusion, could have important implications for the survival rates of those injured in war and disasters.
David Jobes, a cardiothoracic anaesthesiologist at the institute, said: "If this lab discovery can be confirmed in human subjects, it may lead to a change in clinical practice, and possibly to improved survival for massively transfused patients."
This comes after news that scientists at the University of Leicester and in Singapore have developed a technology that will give a more accurate reading as it measures the pressure close to the heart.
Written by Martin Lambert
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