For much of the 20th century, surgeons and patients relied almost exclusively on donated blood through a process known as "allogeneic" transfusion and still do so today. Though millions of lives are saved because of volunteer donors, there are potential complications with these transfusions.

• Infectious diseases, such as HIV, West Nile Virus, and Hepatitis, can be contracted.
• Bacterial infection and Sepsis can develop.
• Risk of allergic reactions and incompatibility, such as Anaphylaxis and TA-GvHD.
• Shortages, particularly with rare blood types or antibody types that can postpone surgical procedures.
• Religious beliefs that can prohibit patients from receiving donor blood, thus rendering them ineligible for many surgical procedures.

There is an alternative to donated blood. Autologous transfusions or autotransfusions (AT) use only the patient's blood. By far the safest option, autotransfusions have been available for nearly 30 years. They remove the risk of infectious disease and ensure that the blood type is a perfect match. The risk of allergic reactions is drastically reduced. And in addition to the direct personal benefits of AT, every pint of blood that's not used can save the lives of three other people.