The research titled "The transition from gel separatory serum tubes to lithium heparin gel tubes in the clinical laboratory" is focused on estimating the potential of replacing serum samples with plasma samples in various Clinical Chemistry and Immunoassay tests. According to Zengi (2023), plasma is gradually gaining popularity over serum due to the advantages it provides. It has several advantages, including greater volume, no need to clot prior to centrifugation, and improved sample quality. However, it is not clear as to why plasma has a larger volume compared to serum regardless of having the same volume of blood drawn.
In accordance to Guthrie (2012), it takes less time to extract plasma since it does not coagulate, and it has clotting proteins that serum lacks. Considering that the clotting factors that are lost during serum collection are present in plasma, it has around 10–20% more proteins than serum. Over ten orders of magnitude may be found in the protein composition of plasma; albumin makes up the majority of it while cytokines include some of the lowest quantities. Ninety-five percent of the total mass of proteins in plasma is composed of ten different proteins.
Reference:
Guthrie, J.W. (2012). Extraction Techniques and Applications: Biological/Medical and Environmental/Forensics. Comprehensive Sampling and Sample Preparation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/referencework/9780123813749/comprehensive-sampling-and-sample-preparation
The difference in volume between plasma and serum, despite the same volume of blood being drawn, can be attributed to the presence of clotting factors in plasma. Plasma contains clotting factors, such as fibrinogen, which contribute to its larger volume compared to serum. When blood is collected and allowed to clot, these clotting factors form a fibrin mesh, trapping cellular components and causing the serum to occupy a smaller volume relative to plasma. Therefore, even though the same volume of blood is drawn, the absence of clotting factors in serum results in a smaller volume compared to plasma.
The difference in volume between plasma and serum, despite the same volume of blood being drawn, can be attributed to the presence of clotting factors in plasma. Plasma contains clotting factors, such as fibrinogen, which contribute to its larger volume compared to serum. When blood is collected and allowed to clot, these clotting factors form a fibrin mesh, trapping cellular components and causing the serum to occupy a smaller volume relative to plasma. Therefore, even though the same volume of blood is drawn, the absence of clotting factors in serum results in a smaller volume compared to plasma.
When plasma is collected it typically has a higher volume than serum because it retains fibrinogen and the collecting tube used for it has anticoagulants. When whole blood is drawn into tubes containing anticoagulants, like heparin or EDTA. These anticoagulants will prevent the blood from clotting by inhibiting the coagulation factors, thus it will remain liquid, allowing the constituent cells to separate upon centrifugation. Since clotting does not occur in plasma they retain a larger volume than serum.
Reference:
Carey, R. N., Jani, C., Johnson, C., Pearce, J., Hui-Ng, P., & Lacson, E. (2016). Chemistry Testing on Plasma Versus Serum Samples in Dialysis Patients: Clinical and Quality Improvement Implications. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN, 11(9), 1675–1679. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.09310915
Although they are both parts of blood, serum and plasma have different compositions. Serum is only plasma with the clotting factors removed, whereas plasma contains all the elements of blood, including proteins.
Serum is left behind after a clot is formed from blood that has been drawn and allowed to clot. Fibrinogen and other clotting factors are released from plasma into serum during the clotting process. Because plasma contains these extra clotting components and proteins that are eliminated during clot formation, it has a greater volume than serum.
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