THANDI XABA
According to scientists in the United Kingdom, the first clinical trial of the use of synthetic blood on humans will begin in 2017.
Experts further cite in an ideal world synthetic blood would lessen the pressure on collecting sufficient natural blood yet there is still a long way to go in making that happen.
However Spokesperson at the SA National Blood Services Vanessa Raju says the country supports voluntary donation of blood as it is always the better option than the synthetic kind.
"In South Africa we are still pro voluntary donation of blood becuase we know that nothing can replace what 100% blood can do for the human body," she says.
Reports reveal that the blood was created by pregnant mothers who donated their umbilical cord blood, then scientists isolated the stem cells from this blood and lastly manipulated the cells to develop functioning red blood cells, which transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Furthermore Raju adds that when something goes on trial, it takes another five years before it can be put into practice.
"South Africa, we really far away in terms of venturing that space, internationally it’s still in trial base and still a few years from finding out the outcome and benefits will be," she adds.
