what is difference between plasma and serum
Answers
Both plasma and serum are derivatives of blood. Both contain electrolytes, other proteins, drugs, hormones and toxins. Both can be acquired from centrifugation and purity depends on the duration and the frequency of this process. Both can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. But plasma is serum with fibrinogen and clotting factors. So plasma tends to discolor on standing, whereas serum does not. Separation of plasma is relatively easy and inexpensive, whereas separation of serum requires higher levels of expertise and expenses. Plasma is most commonly used for therapeutic purposes where, either the full plasma (Fresh frozen plasma), clotting factor removed (Cryo poor plasma) or the clotting factors itself (Cryo precipitate) can be used. Serum is most commonly used for diagnostic purposes. Animal sera are used in humans for therapeutic purposes.
Plasma can be considered as the crude product of precipitation of blood whereas serum is the refined plasma minus the fibrinogen and the other clotting factors