An artificial haemoglobin that transcends all groups

New Delhi: Delhi University has claimed to develop a safe and portable blood substitute, which can be used irrespective of blood groups for the patients in emergency situations such as accidents.

A team of researchers at DU’s biochemistry department led by professor Suman Kundu, has applied for a patent for laboratory-made hemoglobin which, according to them, enjoys several advantages as a blood substitute.

“The lab-developed haemoglobin is a safe and portable blood substitute. It has multiple advantages like cheaper cost of production, long shelf-life, blood group neutral, no associated risk of transmission of diseases and easy to store," Prof. Kundu said.

“Traditional blood transfusion practice use blood donated by an individuals. However, the worldwide supply of donated blood for transfusion therapy is always woefully short than the demand due to either a general aversion to blood donation or inability to donate due to medical reasons,” he said.

Scientists have been forced to look for alternatives to donated blood, which are called ‘artificial blood substitutes,’ ‘artificial haemoglobin’ or ‘hemoglobin based oxygen carriers (HBOC).’

In India, one unit of blood (350-400 cc) costs around Rs 500-800, while this bloodsubstitute will cost approximately 10-12 per cent less than that. Moreover, natural blood can be stored for 40-50 days while the substitute can be stored for three years, Prof. Kundu claimed.