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

1. blood that has not been modified except for the addition of an anticoagulant
   • whole blood is normally used in blood transfusions