A　small　implantable　centrifugal　left　ventricular　assist　device,　the　CH-VAD　(CH　Biomedical　Inc,　JiangSu,　China),　featuring　a　magnetically　levitated　impeller　is　under　development.　The　goal　of　this　study　is　to　validate　hydrodynamic　performance　and　hemocompatibility　of　the　pump　through　in　vitro　studies.　The　hydraulic　performance　was　quantified　experimentally　by　using　in　vitro　circulation　loop　system,　and　it　turned　out　that　the　pump　could　deliver　5　L/min　under　a　pressure　of　100　mmHg　at　a　rotational　speed　of　approximate　3400　rpm.　A　series　of　in　vitro　tests　were　established　according　to　ASTM　F1841,　the　standard　practice　for　the　assessment　of　hemolysis　in　continuous-flow　blood　pumps.　The　results　showed　that　the　average　normalized　index　of　hemolysis　(NIH)　value　of　the　VAD　was　0.0007　+/-　0.0003　mg/dL.　The　magnetic　levitation　left　ventricular　assist　device　(LVAD)　has　good　hemolytic　performance　and　stable　mechanical　property.　These　acceptable　performance　results　supported　proceeding　initial　acute　animal　testing　conditions.