WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE...

Between serum and plasma?

PLASMA and serum are both terms to describe the liquid part of the blood rather than the blood cells.

Plasma carries proteins, nutrients and chemicals around the blood as well as transporting waste products to the kidneys. Serum is the term used for plasma once certain components have been removed, namely the clotting compounds, in order to carry out a blood test. This process, which involves mixing the taken blood with chemicals in a test tube, allows testing for things like cholesterol levels, as well as certain diseases and conditions.