**3.1. Erythrocytes**

The VADs in current use are designed to minimise high shears to blood for prolonged durations to avoid haemolysis. However, erythrocytes demonstrate impaired capacity to deform when exposed to shear stress well below the "haemolytic threshold" [32]. Thus, there is a need for assays that can pick up more subtle damage to erythrocytes. We propose that quantifying RBC MPs as a possible means of assessing sub-haemolytic damage should be investigated to see whether or not it can fill this need.
