By Tim Bonfield
The Cincinnati Enquirer

University Hospital is seeking public comment about plans to test a form of artificial blood that life squads would give to severely injured people before they reach the hospital.

The study is unusual because it won't be possible for some of the patients to give their consent. The people the study hopes to help likely will be unconscious, in shock, or bleeding so fast that there won't be time to wade through a multi-page consent form.

So by law, the hospital must take its plans to the public before it can start the study.

The artificial blood - called PolyHeme - is made by Northfield Laboratories Inc., based in Evanston, Ill. The product is made by extracting oxygen-carrying hemoglobin cells from human blood. Then, the cells are screened to eliminate potentially transmittable diseases and treated so they can last longer than regular blood cells and be given to anyone, regardless of blood type.

University Hospital is one of 20 centers nationwide that plan to test the product. Of 600 patients - all adults - to be given the product in the next 18 months, about 40 would be given blood during runs by the Cincinnati Fire Department.

"Typically, EMS crews don't carry blood. The purpose of this study is to see if giving blood earlier to trauma victims will improve their outcomes," said Dr. Donald Locasto, primary investigator for the local part of the study.

Some people injured in car crashes or by shootings or stabbings die or suffer long-term damage because blood cannot be given fast enough. But Locasto said he did not know how many such cases occur locally.

If approved, the study would begin in April. The first of seven public comment sessions begins Jan. 13.

For information or to state your view, call (513) 558-5786 or visit www.ucpolyheme.org, which will be launched in a few days.

Blood study sessions
Jan. 13: 4 p.m. Millvale Community Council
Jan. 15: 7p.m. East Westwood Community Council
Jan. 20: 6:30 p.m. Avondale Community Council
Jan. 20: 11 a.m. Cincinnati City Council
Jan. 22: 1 p.m. LeBlonde Community Center
Feb. 9: 8 p.m. Northside Community Council
Feb. 10: 6:30 p.m. Downtown Community Council

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E-mail tbonfield@enquirer.com