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About HBOC

• Hemoglobin Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOCs) such as Hemopure and Oxyglobin are "oxygen therapeutics" that are intravenously administered to transport oxygen to the body's tissues. Go to www.opkbiotech.com for product specifications and characteristics.
  • Hemopure is the human product
  • Oxyglobin is the veterinary product
    
    
• Hemopure and Oxyglobin:
  • Contain polymerized bovine hemoglobin (~13 g/dL) in a balanced electrolyte solution
  • Are a DEEP PURPLE-RED COLOR, (see microhematocrit tubes, Figure 1)
  • Do not cause hemolysis. The drugs themselves change the color of the plasma or serum. Medical or laboratory staff may mistake infused HBOC for hemolysis of the patient's own red blood cells.
  • Have a broad absorption spectrum similar to native human hemoglobin.
  • HBOCs can interfere with laboratory tests based on colorimetric or optical methodologies.

Figure 1. Microhematocrit tubes of whole blood before (tube 1, far left) and after centrifugation. There is a sequential decrease in the red blood cell mass during blood loss and fluid administration. Standard fluid administration (i.e., Lactated Ringer's) results in a clear plasma layer after centrifugation (tubes 2-7) while HBOC administration results in a red plasma layer (tubes 8-23).