Dr. Ajit Chitre

Yes, it's true ! Old habits don't die. All of us probably, had at least one teacher in our medical college who always ordered "fresh whole blood" for his patients. Many of us, therefore, use the same phrase while ordering for blood.
The following information may be helpful in getting rid of this habit.
The safety of the recipient of blood or its components makes it necessary to ensure that the donated unit of blood is free from the hazard of transmitting AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis or Malaria. These tests are time-consuming. It is rarely possible for a unit of blood to reach a patient's bedside in less than six hours after collection. (Usually, we take 24 hours to comply these).
The intervening period of more than six hours between collection and transfusion is sufficient for disappearance of all "labile" coagulation factors (Factors V, VII and VIII).
Since blood is refrigerated during this time gap, blood platelets become "non-viable" and are useless for the recipient.
All "labile" coagulation factors are available separately in "Fresh-Frozen Plasma" (FFP). This product can be given (in a "group-specific" manner) to your patients if these are what you think your patient needs.
Viable platelets are available as "Platelet Concentrate" (PLC or Random Donor Platelets). These can be given after matching. (Some clinicians give ABO group-specific platelets without matching, while others give platelets of any ABO blood group to any recipient.)
Infusing "Whole Blood" to correct anaemia exposes the patient to the dangers of (a) allergic/anaphylactic reactions to unwanted proteins; and (b) overloading the circulation.

In this context the following paragraph from "Blood Transfusion in Clinical Medicine" by P. L. Mollison (Ninth edition) is relevant :

"Use of fresh blood in the treatment of haemorrhagic states
Many clinicians, mainly surgeons, have a strong belief that the transfusion of fresh whole blood can arrest haemorrhage when nothing else will, It is difficult to be sure that this view is incorrect, although if it is correct its scientific basis is unknown. What is certain is that it is highly inconvenient to obtain fresh compatible blood in adequate amounts as the occasion demands, and that when fresh blood is used there is usually no time for testing it properly; omission of tests for HBsAg and anti-HIV is unacceptable. Since virtually all the elements in blood can now be stored satisfactorily and since various concentrates (e.g. Factor VIII and platelets) are available which are more effective than fresh whole blood in treating particular deficiencies, it is doubtful whether there are any circumstances in which fresh whole blood is essential."
 
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