cost for a unit of blood
The authors also describe how the cost and risks related to blood transfusions have driven the search for alternatives to blood. A single blood unit costs approximately US$700 to US$1200. US patients receive transfusions of 24 million blood products (red blood cells, fresh-frozen plasma, and platelets) each year. However, patients who receive blood are at increased risk for infection, kidney failure, lung dysfunction, transfusion reactions, and many other health complications.