"Fake blood" has a new meaning

[Kraven de Sade]

Introducing... plastic blood!

Not only is it made of plastic, but it appears to have a future as emergency temporary blood replacement.

[ugh...]

I think that's GREAT!!! I know that the blood supply of the country is very low.. but I still get shivers thinking about having to get blood put into me. I'm not a fan of needles. ::shiver:: ::holds arms where IV would be put in::

[Ishkabibble]

It wouldn't work for long though. In the long run, you would have to run to the hospital to get more injected in you. Which sourly kills the point in having it put in in the first place.

[soggypicklemuncher]

Is that because it doesn't replace lost living cells?

[biohazard]

Well that is a good way to solve problems of certain people.

[Kraven de Sade]

Originally Posted by Ishkabibble

It wouldn't work for long though. In the long run, you would have to run to the hospital to get more injected in you. Which sourly kills the point in having it put in in the first place.

That's why it's a temporary solution. It's made to keep people who've lost a bunch of blood alive long enough to get a transfusion of real blood, not to keep them alive permanently.

[Caught]

I also think it's great, this way people can be kept alive and the real blood can be checked properly before give to someone (anyone remembers big aids problem with blood transfusions in France?).

[Ishkabibble]

The question is...how do they get it out?
:3
The thing's fake, right?

[Sixethtime]

I shudder to think what it would feel like to have fake blood in you.
Damn it, I already hate regular blood as it is. O_o

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by Ishkabibble

The question is...how do they get it out?

Maybe it comes out naturally, like when people have dyes injected in hospital to monitor things.

So... if its artificial can you give it to anyone? Blood type won't matter? That would be very useful, save time figuring out what type a person needs.

[Ishkabibble]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Maybe it comes out naturally, like when people have dyes injected in hospital to monitor things.

Heh' imagine how amusing it would be if someone got it out when they used the toilet. XD
Ohhh, I better keep away from that chocolate

[Ishkabibble]

Erm, I guess the blood would have to coincide with your blood type. As far as I am aware, if you get the wrong type of blood, you're as good as dead, maybe sick.

[Raptor]

I guess it could come out when you go to the toliet lol. I think some medical dyes do that actually.
Yeh blood type is very important for transfusions, but type O blood can be given to anyone. So, if you made the artificial blood like that then it could be given to anyone maybe. I think the difference with O is that the cells don't have antigens or antibodies on them so they don't react badly with other types of blood. Pretty sure thats how it works but its been awhile since I did biology.

[Ishkabibble]

Funny how one day you can wake up and poo blood.

In any case, probably getting fake blood isn't a very good idea. In one way, it could mess up the way your circulatory system functions. I'm sure your blood won't be happy to have fake blood cells posing as real blood cells.

[Kraven de Sade]

Well, your body would try to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Probably through the kidneys. (Good thing the testicles have nothing to do with it... otherwise the Cannibal Corpse song "I Cum Blood" would become reality...) But it would still take an hour or so. And usually, emergency blood tranfusions are only meant to last that long, anyway, so it shouldn't really matter.

[Ishkabibble]

Isn't it just better to wait for the transfusion if the fake blood's going to last so long?

[Kraven de Sade]

Sometimes people can't wait. Like someone who was in a serious accident and is losing a lot of blood due to internal hemmorhaging that can't be dealt with in an ambulance or medical helicopter. They can't wait because they'll die from blood loss long before they can get a transfusion.

[Underwater Ophelia]

Plastics make it possible. =)