What is Plasma and Serum - Key Differences
Blood contains two important components that you'll need to know for your NEET exam: plasma and serum.
Think of blood as a mixture. When you separate it, you get different parts that are useful for different things.
Plasma is the liquid part of blood that still has clotting factors. It's what helps your blood form clots when you get a cut.
Serum is what you get after blood has clotted. It's similar to plasma but without those clotting factors.
The main difference between plasma and serum is simple: plasma has fibrinogen (a clotting protein), while serum doesn't. Understanding this difference will help you ace your NEET questions!
Difference Between Plasma and Serum in Tabular Form
Essential Study Materials for NEET UG Success
FAQs on Difference Between Plasma and Serum
1. What are the five differences between plasma and serum?
Plasma has clotting factors, while serum does not. Plasma is separated using anticoagulants, but serum forms after blood clots. Plasma is used in transfusions, while serum is for tests. Plasma is yellowish, while serum is clear. Plasma has fibrinogen, while serum does not.
2. What does plasma have that serum does not?
Plasma contains clotting factors, including fibrinogen, which helps blood clot. Serum does not have these factors as they are removed during clot formation.
3. How do you separate serum and plasma?
To get plasma, blood is mixed with an anticoagulant and centrifuged. To get the serum, blood is allowed to clot first, then centrifuged to remove the solid part.
4. What is the chief difference between plasma and serum?
The main difference is that plasma has clotting factors like fibrinogen, while serum does not.
5. What colour is plasma?
Plasma is usually pale yellow due to the presence of proteins and nutrients.
6. Why is serum red after centrifugation?
Serum can appear red if red blood cells break during the process, releasing haemoglobin.
7. Are platelets in plasma?
Yes, plasma contains platelets, which help in blood clotting. However, after separation, platelet-poor plasma is often used in medical treatments.
8. Which is present in both serum and plasma?
Both plasma and serum contain electrolytes, hormones, and antibodies, but only plasma has clotting factors.
