A clinical trial has tested lab-grown blood on two people to observe how it performs inside the human body. Teams in Bristol, Cambridge, London, and the NHS Blood and Transplant Department conducted studies in which tiny amounts of blood equivalent to two spoonfuls were tried out on red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Professor Cedric Ghevaert, the Chief Investigator and Specialist in Transfusion medicine and consultant Haematologist at the University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant said: "We hope that lab-grown red blood cells will last longer than those that come from blood donors." He added: "If our trial, the first such in the world, is successful, it will mean that patients who currently require regular long-term blood transfusions, will need fewer in the future."
According to the research team, red blood vessels normally last for about 120 days before they have to be replaced, whereas a typical blood donation contains a mix of young and old blood cells, lab-grown blood is freshly made and for that reason, it will last much longer.
Currently, two people have taken part in the trial, yet the team aims to test the blood of 10 healthy volunteers. The participants will get two donations of 5-1 ml for at least four months. One normal blood and one lab-grown.
When I was young, I was a blood donor so I am delighted to read about this fantastic but amazing news!!
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