Minimal tactical impact and maximal donor safety after a buddy transfusion: A study on elite soldier performances in both laboratory and field environments.

From a donor's point of view, a 450-ml blood donation has no impact on the required abilities of our elite soldiers to fulfill a demanding tactical mission. Thus, the results of this study support the fact that buddy transfusions could be part of the operational clinical armamentarium in austere environments for elite soldiers when no blood components are available.