SOUTH Africa will be the first country to use a blood substitute for humans made from cow’s blood, the Netcare health company announced Tuesday. The product, Hemopure, can be stored for up to two years at room temperature, is regarded as an enormous advantage in the developing world, where refrigerators are often rare, as well as for military field hospitals. It can be transfused regardless of a patient’s blood type. It can be used for the treatment of acute anaemia and surgery, Netcare said, adding that it was manufactured under a technique that prevented the transmission of bovine illnesses such as mad cow disease. Hemopure delivers oxygen to the body, but cannot handle other blood functions. – AFP