In order to eliminate the risk of transmission of infectious diseases and of alloimmunisation, a pre-deposited autologous blood program for elective surgery has been started at the Erasmus Hospital. In 8 months, 51 patients have given 111 units of packed red cells and 111 units of fresh plasma. Two vasovagal reactions were observed. Four patients were withdrawn from the program in view of a hematocrit decreasing below 34%. Out of these 51 patients, 27 (53%) were transfused with only autologous blood. The autologous blood not distributed to these patients was given to other patients (10% of packed red cells and 24% of plasma). This pre-deposited autologous program has allowed to operate more than 50% of patients, undergoing elective surgery, only with autologous blood and to save homologous blood. The pre-deposited blood appears to be an interesting tool in transfusion safety and in the reduction of blood demand.