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Preparation of serum cups for a lipids panel designed to test cholesterol levels in a patient's blood. Serum (/ ˈ s ɪər ə m /) is the fluid and solvent component of blood which does not play a role in clotting. [1] It may be defined as blood plasma without the clotting factors, or as blood with all cells and clotting factors removed.
Blood serum and blood plasma are similar, but serum does not contain any clotting factors such as fibrinogen, prothrombin, thromboplastin and many others. Serum includes all proteins not used in coagulation (clotting) and all the electrolytes, antibodies, antigens, hormones and any exogenous substances, such as drugs and microorganisms.
Fibrinogen from plasma samples will be seen in the beta gamma region. Fibrinogen, a beta-2 protein, is found in normal plasma but absent in normal serum. Occasionally, blood drawn from heparinized patients does not fully clot, resulting in a visible fibrinogen band between the beta and gamma globulins. [citation needed]
Serum sample preparation requires about 30 minutes of waiting time before it can be centrifuged and then analyzed. [23] However, coagulation can be hastened down to a few minutes by adding thrombin or similar agents to the serum sample. [25] Compared to serum, 15–20% larger volume of plasma can be obtained from a blood sample of certain size.
Fibrinogen is made and secreted into the blood primarily by liver hepatocyte cells. Endothelium cells are also reported to make small amounts of fibrinogen, but this fibrinogen has not been fully characterized; blood platelets and their precursors, bone marrow megakaryocytes, while once thought to make fibrinogen, are now known to take up and store but not make the glycoprotein.
The reference range for prothrombin time depends on the analytical method used, but is usually around 12–13 seconds (results should always be interpreted using the reference range from the laboratory that performed the test), and the INR in absence of anticoagulation therapy is 0.8–1.2.
This involves integration of all of the steps in the analytical process, from the initial removal of plasma from whole blood to the final analytical result, on a small microfluidic device. This is advantageous because it reduces turn around time, allows for the control of variables by automation , and removes the labor-intensive and sample ...
Serum total protein, also known as total protein, is a clinical chemistry parameter representing the concentration of protein in serum. [1] Serum contains many proteins including serum albumin, a variety of globulins, and many others. While it is possible to analyze these proteins individually, total protein is a relatively quick and ...