The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of epoetin alfa and whether epoetin alfa will enable self-donation of blood during an 11-day period before surgery (which is shorter than the conventional 3-week blood donation period before surgery) in patients who are not anemic and who will be undergoing orthopedic, heart and blood vessel, or breast reduction surgery. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production. Normovolemic hemodilution (NVHD, withdrawal of a patient's blood immediately before surgery, immediate replacement of blood with an equal volume of fluid, and return of the withdrawn blood after completion of surgery; a procedure which reduces the loss of blood during surgery) will also be performed.
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Number of self-donated units of blood obtained within 11 days; Assessment of safety (laboratory tests, vital signs, and adverse events) from before the study to the end of the study