Diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb; Baxter Healthcare Corp, Deerfield, IL) is hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier which, in our laboratory, improved hemodynamic parameters in a rat burn shock model. Our objective was to compare the effects on hemodynamic parameters and metabolic acidosis of resuscitation with different doses of fresh blood (FB) vs DCLHb. Male Wistar rats (200 to 250 g), surgically prepared for an acute study, were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups. (n = 8): I. SHAM (not burned, not resuscitated), II. DCLHb 2 ml/kg/% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burn and 2 ml/kg/% TBSA burn of Lactated Ringers (LR), III. DCLHb 1 ml/kg/% TBSA burn and 1 ml/kg/% TBSA burn of LR IV. FB 2 ml/kg/% TBSA burn and 2 ml/kg/% TBSA burn of LR V. FB 1 ml/kg/% TBSA burn and 1 ml/kg/% TBSA burn of LR After placement of indwelling catheters, the following baseline hemodynamic values were obtained mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and base excess (BE). The animals were immediately intravenously resuscitated after receiving a 30% scald burn and were followed for 6 hours. Resuscitation was based on the Parkland formula. Blood was obtained from donor male Wistar rats. The animals were euthanized at 6 hours. MAP remained within normal range in all groups. The SVR, CO, SV and BE were normalized earlier in the LR-DCLHb groups when compared to the LR-FB groups (p < 0.05). Early resuscitation with DCLHb is superior to FB in improving hemodynamics in this model. There appears to be a direct relationship between dose and effect with the use of DCLHb. DCLHb could be useful in decreasing resuscitation fluid requirements in acute burns without compromising general tissue perfusion.