Difference between Blood Plasma and Serum

Blood Plasma vs Blood Serum

Difference between Plasma and Serum: Blood is a body fluid composed of blood cells suspended in the blood plasma. Blood facilitate the transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and hormones in the body. The terms ‘Blood Plasma’ and ‘Blood Serum’ are synonymously used. In fact, they are two different components of the blood. The blood chiefly composed of three main components; they are serum, plasma and blood corpuscles (RBC and WBC).

Serum: Serum is the liquid part of blood (plasma) without the clotting factors (fibrinogen). Serum = plasma – clotting factors

Plasma: Plasma is the medium of blood in which the blood cells (RBC and WBC) and other components of the blood are suspended. The plasma composed of serum and clotting factor.

The present post discuss the Similarities and Differences between Blood Serum and Plasma

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Similarities between Serum and Plasma

Ø  Both serum and plasma are the components of blood.

Ø  Both serum and plasma are used for blood testing for diagnostic purpose.

Ø  Both are the fluid component of blood.

Ø  The composition plasma and serum is more or less similar.

Ø  Both contain hormones, glucose and electrolytes.

Ø  Both contain antigens and antibodies.

Difference between Plasma and Serum

Difference between Plasma and Serum

Sl. No.Blood SerumBlood Plasma
1Definition: Serum is the liquid part of the blood (plasma) without the clotting factor (fibrinogen)Definition: Plasma is the medium of blood in which the blood cells (RBC and WBC) and other components are suspended
2Serum do not contain blood cellsBlood cells are suspended in the blood plasma
3Serum do not contain fibrinogen (the clotting factor)Plasma contain fibrinogen
4Blood serum is released from the blood clotBlood plasma is the fluid part of the unclotted blood
5Serum is a clear fluidPlasma is a faint yellow fluid
6The volume of serum is comparatively lesser than blood plasmaThe volume of blood plasma is more than that of serum. Plasma constitute about 55% of the total volume of blood
7Water content of serum is 90%Water content of plasma is 92 – 95%
8Blood serum cannot clotBlood plasma can clot
9Serum is obtained by the centrifugation of coagulated bloodPlasma is obtained by the centrifugation of blood added with any anticoagulant
10Comparatively shorter shelf life in storingHigher shelf life in storage, the plasma can be stored even for 10 years with suitable methods
11Serum is the important source of blood electrolytesPlasma is the main medium of excretory product circulation through the blood




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