Although plasma and serum are both blood products, they have some important differences. Plasma is the liquid part of blood, while serum is the clear part that remains after the plasma has been removed. The serum contains water, proteins, electrolytes, and other dissolved substances. It is used for testing various substances in the body, such as enzymes and antibodies. Plasma is used to transfuse patients who are dehydrated or have lost blood, among other things.
What is Plasma?
Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood that remains after red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other cellular components are removed. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume in the human body. Plasma is mostly water (91% by volume), but it also contains enzymes, hormones, electrolytes, nutrients, and proteins. plasma proteins include clotting factors, albumin, and immunoglobulins. Many plasma proteins are involved in the movement of lipids, hormones, and vitamins through the bloodstream. Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and plays an important role in maintaining blood pressure and keeping fluid from leaking out of blood vessels. Plasma also helps to remove waste products from the body, transport hormones and other signaling molecules around the body, and maintain homeostasis.
What is Serum?
Serum is the clear, yellowish liquid that separates from blood when it clots. It makes up about 60% of blood volume and contains nutrients, antibodies, hormones, and clotting factors. The serum does not contain red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. When these cells are removed from whole blood, what remains is serum. The serum is used in many laboratory tests to measure different substances in the blood. It is also used in some types of transfusions. For example, it can be given to people who have lost a lot of blood (blood loss). Serum can also be used to make immune globulin, which helps protect people from infections. Immunoglobulin is sometimes given to people who have been exposed to a virus or bacteria (exposure). It can also be given to people who have a weakened immune system (immunodeficiency).
Difference between Plasma and Serum
Plasma and serum are both liquid parts of blood. They have many similarities, but there are also some important differences between the two. Both plasma and serum contain a variety of proteins, including antibodies, clotting factors, and enzymes. In addition, both are straw-colored and transparent. However, there are two key ways in which plasma and serum differ. First, plasma is the liquid part of blood that contains all of the cells, while serum is the liquid part of blood that does not contain any cells. Second, plasma can be separated from whole blood using a process called centrifugation, while serum must be obtained by allowing clotting to occur first and then removing the clot. These differences are important to keep in mind when performing laboratory tests on blood samples.
Conclusion
Plasma and serum are both important components of blood, but they have different purposes. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood, while serum is the protein-rich portion. Serum can be used for a variety of diagnostic tests, while plasma is often used in transfusions. Knowing the difference between these two substances is important for anyone working in a medical setting or who needs to order lab work done.
