Plasma vs. Serum Quiz

Study Notes

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma is the liquid component of blood remaining after blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) are removed. It's the non-cellular portion of blood.
Serum is the liquid component of blood remaining after blood cells and clotting factors are removed. This difference is crucial.

Key Components in Plasma

Water: The main component; acts as a solvent.
Proteins: Albumin, globulins, and clotting factors. Albumin is essential for maintaining osmotic pressure, influencing fluid balance.
Electrolytes: Sodium, potassium, calcium, and more. Maintaining proper fluid balance and nerve function.
Nutrients: Glucose, amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Waste products: Urea, creatinine.

Key Differences in Composition

Clotting factors: Plasma contains clotting factors, vital for blood clot formation. Serum lacks these factors, removed during serum separation.
Fibrinogen: Plasma contains fibrinogen, a key clotting protein; fibrinogen is absent in serum.
Other proteins: Serum contains some proteins but not the complete set found in plasma.

Clinical Significance

Plasma is collected for lab tests due to its clotting factors, crucial for assessing blood clotting disorders.
Serum is widely used for various lab tests due to its easier collection and storage.
Plasma analysis is needed for tests examining clotting factors and proteins.
Serum is suitable for other blood analyses, like hormone and metabolic assessments.
Serum is extensively used in clinical chemistry to measure various substances and biomarkers.
Plasma analysis provides insight into blood coagulation and other functions; assessing blood clotting ability strongly benefits from plasma tests.

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