whole blood
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Blood that has not been separated into its components: "Whole blood" refers to human blood collected from a donor, which contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. It is typically stored with an anticoagulant to prevent clotting but is otherwise unprocessed.
Usage
"Whole blood" is a technical term used primarily in medical, clinical, and transfusion contexts. It specifies the type of blood product being discussed or used.
Examples
- The hospital's blood bank has a critical shortage of whole blood.
- In some emergency situations, transfusing whole blood is more effective than using individual blood components.
- The donation center collected several units of whole blood during the drive.
Advanced Usage
- "Fresh whole blood": Sometimes specified to indicate recently donated blood that has not been stored for a long period, which may be preferred for certain medical procedures.
Variants and Related Words
- Blood component (n): A separated part of whole blood, such as packed red blood cells, plasma, or platelets. This is a contrasting term.
- Packed red blood cells (PRBCs) (n): A specific blood component prepared from whole blood.
Synonyms
- Unfractionated blood: A more technical synonym.
- Full blood: A less common variant, primarily in British English contexts.
Notes on Meaning
The term specifically denotes blood in its complete, composite form as it exists in the body (post-donation). It is distinct from "blood" in a general sense, as "blood" can refer to the fluid in the body or conceptually to lineage, while "whole blood" is always a specific medical product.
Noun
- blood that has not been modified except for the addition of an anticoagulant
- whole blood is normally used in blood transfusions