FAQs about Serum and Plasma

1. What are two Major Differences between Serum and Plasma?

Serum is the liquid left after blood clotting, while plasma is the liquid that remains when an anticoagulant is added to prevent clotting. Plasma, a clear, straw-colored fluid, represents the undiluted extracellular portion of blood.

2. Why Serum is used Instead of Plasma?

Serum, constituting a larger proportion of blood than plasma, is extensively utilized in research due to its efficient removal of unwanted red blood cells, resulting in greater volume per unit of blood.

3. What Color is Plasma?

Blood plasma, the yellow liquid component in which blood cells are suspended, varies in color from barely yellow to dark yellow, occasionally with brown, orange, or green hues.

4. What is the Function of the Serum?

Albumin molecules in the serum bind to substances, facilitating their transport. Human serum aids in the transportation of fatty acids and thyroid hormones, influencing a wide range of cells in the body.

5. What Percentage of Blood is Serum?

Serum, comprising the non-clotting portion of plasma, constitutes about 55% of blood volume, while red blood cells make up 45%, and white blood cells and platelets together account for approximately 1%.

Plasma and serum are both present in the blood, but the percentage of plasma is more in contrast to serum. Plasma is a pale-yellow fluid that can be obtained from anticoagulant-containing vials, which prevents the clotting of blood, and after centrifugation, plasma will be obtained. Serum is also yellow in color and is obtained after centrifugation of clotted blood. The percentage of plasma in blood is 55%. Both serum and plasma are used for diagnostic purposes.