How blood is separated into serum and cells

 How is blood separated into serum and cells?

Blood centrifugation is the technique used to divide blood into serum and cells. A typical laboratory method for separating elements of a liquid mixture according to their densities is centrifugation. It is used to separate the liquid component of blood, known as plasma or serum depending on whether the blood is anticoagulated, from the cellular components (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).
A broad description of how blood is divided into serum and cells is given below:
1. Blood Collection: A blood sample is taken from the person, usually by using a needle and syringe or a specific blood collection tube to extract blood from a vein.
2. Anticoagulation (optional): Blood is collected in a tube without anticoagulant if the goal is to extract serum. To avoid blood clotting during the centrifugation process, an anticoagulant (such as heparin, EDTA, or citrate) may be added if plasma is needed.
3. Centrifugation: A centrifuge, which is a device that spins the sample at high speeds, is used to separate the blood sample. The denser blood components separate from the less dense ones due to the centrifugal force produced by spinning.
4. Layers Form: During centrifugation, the biological components—red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—are forced to the tube's bottom due to their higher density, resulting in the formation of a dense pellet. Plasma or serum are the liquid components that remain on top of the cellular pellet.
5. Separation: The tube is gently taken out of the centrifuge once centrifugation has finished, and the top layer—which includes plasma or serum—is separated from the cellular pellet at the bottom.
6. Serum or Plasma Collection: If an anticoagulant is present in the tube, the liquid portion is referred to as plasma. The liquid component is known as serum if the tube does not include an anticoagulant and the blood has clotted during centrifugation. Serum is basically plasma without the clotting factors that have been eaten during the clotting process, whereas plasma has all of the clotting factors.
The separation procedure must be carried out precisely and carefully to prevent contamination or mixing of the serum or plasma with the cellular components. Additionally, the precise testing needs or diagnostic goals affect whether serum or plasma should be obtained.