Fast-Acting Coagulant for Bleeding Wounds

A new compound rapidly absorbs all the liquid in a profusely bleeding wound and leaves behind clotting factors that result in coagulation within seconds. The coagulant has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Called QuickClot, the coagulant is indestructible and remains viable at extreme temperatures. The granulated material is packaged for individual use at the point of care. It is chemically and biologically inert and is nonbotanical, so it offers no inherent risk of disease transmission and is nonallergenic. QuickClot is being produced by Z-Medica (Newington, CT, USA; www.z-medica.com). The basic ingredient is found in cosmetics and nondairy creamers. The company says the product is already being used by US military forces in Afghanistan.

This is a major advance in casualty care,” says Dave Street, of the US Office of Naval Research. "Battlefield deaths due to massive blood loss remain at around 50%, a statistic that has not changed since the Civil War. Anything that changes this will represent a greatly increased chance of survival for the wounded.”




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