Why do some patients accept blood fractions but decline HBOCs?
• HBOCs carry risk of exposure to viruses • HBOCs, when transfused, because of the high concentration of hemoglobin, looks and/or gives the appearance of receiving a transfusion of whole-blood or RBCs. • HBOCs are “so similar to the function of the whole component and carry on such a life-sustaining role in the body”.