Plasma vs. Serum

Main Difference
The main difference between plasma and serum is that plasma is a watery part of anticoagulated blood and consists of clotting factors like fibrinogen while serum is plasma without clotting factors, i.e., fibrinogen.

Difference Between Plasma and Serum

Plasma vs. Serum

The fluid part of the blood that has clotting factors is known as plasma while fluid part of the blood devoid of clotting factors is known as serum.

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma contains fibrinogen while fibrinogen is absent in serum.

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma needs anticoagulants like EDTA and Heparin etc. while Serum does not need any anticoagulant.

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma is obtained by centrifuging blood before clotting while serum is obtained after blood clotting. So, it is more tough and expensive to extract serum.

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma comprises 55% of the total blood while serum contains less volume of

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma has a 1.025 g/ml density whereas that of serum is 1.024 g/ml.

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma consists of 92-95% water, but the serum is consists of 90% water.

Plasma vs. Serum

Plasma is used for transfusion to that patient who lacks blood cells like hemophilia while serum is used for diagnosing different diseases and for checking blood groups.

Plasmanoun

(physics) A state of matter consisting of partially ionized gas

Serumnoun

The clear yellowish liquid obtained upon separating whole blood into its solid and liquid components after it has been allowed to clot. Also called blood serum.

Plasmanoun

(hematology) A clear component of blood or lymph containing fibrin

Serumnoun

Blood serum from the tissues of immunized animals, containing antibodies and used to transfer immunity to another individual, called antiserum.

Plasmanoun

(hematology) Blood plasma, free of suspended cells, used in transfusions

Serumnoun

A watery liquid from animal tissue, especially one that moistens the surface of serous membranes or that is exuded by such membranes when they become inflamed, such as in edema or a blister.

Plasmanoun

(mineralogy) A variety of green quartz, used in ancient times for making engraved ornaments.

Serumnoun

The watery portion of certain animal fluids, as blood, milk, etc; whey.

Plasmanoun

A mixture of starch and glycerin, used as a substitute for ointments.

Serumnoun

(skincare) An intensive moisturising product to be applied after cleansing but before a general moisturiser.

Plasmanoun

A visual effect in which cycles of changing colours are warped in various ways to give the illusion of liquid organic movement.

Serumnoun

watery fluid of the blood that resembles plasma but contains fibrinogen

Plasmanoun

colorless watery fluid of blood and lymph containing no cells and in which erythrocytes and leukocytes and platelets are suspended

Plasmanoun

a green slightly translucent variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone

Plasmanoun

(physical chemistry) a fourth state of matter distinct from solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion reactors; a gas becomes a plasma when it is heated until the atoms lose all their electrons, leaving a highly electrified collection of nuclei and free electrons;

particles in space exist in the form of a plasma

Comparison Chart

Plasma	Serum
The fluid part of the blood that has clotting factors and where blood cells are suspended is known as plasma.	The fluid part of the blood that is devoid of clotting factors is known as serum.
Fibrinogen
It contains fibrinogen.	It does not contain fibrinogen.
Anticoagulant
It needs anticoagulants like EDTA and Heparin.	It does not need any anticoagulant.
Density
Plasma has a 1.025 g/ml density.	It has a density of 1.024 g/ml.
Volume
Plasma comprises 55% of the total blood.	The serum is less in volume than plasma.
Source
It is obtained by centrifuging the blood before clotting.	It is obtained by centrifuging the blood after clotting.
Extraction
Extraction of plasma is easy and less time to consume than serum.	Extraction of serum is tough and more time-consuming.
Storage
Plasma can be stored for years at freezing temperature.	The serum can be stored at freezing temperatures just for many months.
Water Contents
Plasma consists of 92-95% of water.	The serum is consists of 90% water.
Composition
Plasma is composed of water, amino acids, albumins, globulins, enzymes, gasses, nutrients, nitrogenous wastes, and fibrinogen, etc.	The serum is composed of water, amino acids, albumins, globulins, enzymes, gasses, nutrients, and nitrogenous wastes, etc.
Medical Use
Plasma is used for transfusion to that patient who lacks blood cells.	The serum is used in the diagnosis of diseases and for checking blood groups.

Plasma vs. Serum

Blood is the most important fluid of the body. It circulates through the arteries, veins, and capillaries and plays a vital role in the transportation of different material to or from all cells of the body like oxygen and waste metabolites, etc. Blood comprises 8% of the total body weight. It is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It consists of two other parts, i.e., plasma and serum. The liquid part of the blood that has clotting factors like fibrinogen is called plasma while the watery part of blood devoid of clotting factors is known as serum. So, plasma is obtained before the coagulation of blood while serum is obtained after coagulation. The serum has a volume less than that of plasma.

What is Plasma?

That liquid part of the blood where the components like cells, nutrients and hormones, etc. floats is known as plasma. Plasma comprises 55% of the total blood. It is composed of water, amino acids, albumins, globulins, enzymes, gasses, nutrients, nitrogenous wastes, electrolytes and fibrinogen, etc. Fibrinogen is a blood clotting factor that is present in plasma and helps in clotting blood in case of any injury. It can be stored for years and easily transported from one place to another.

Functions

Plasma performs various important functions given below.
It contains many important proteins that are involved in the transportation of material throughout the body such as glucose etc.
It helps in regulating the body temperature.
It maintains blood pressure.
In the case of hemophilia and other such diseases, it is used for transfusion to the patient.

Extraction

To extract the plasma, take a small amount of blood sample in a test tube and add some anticoagulant factors in it, like EDTA, etc. Centrifuge it for some time. According to their weight and density, blood components will be separated into three layers. The lowermost layer is of red blood cells and appears of red color. The second layer is white and contains white blood cells and platelets. The topmost layer is of plasma and is yellow. Extraction of plasma is easy and less time to consume than serum.

What is Serum?

The fluid part of the blood which is devoid of clotting factors is known as serum. The serum is composed of water, amino acids, albumins, globulins, enzymes, gasses, nutrients, and nitrogenous wastes, etc. Fibrinogen which is a clotting factor is absent in it. It contains antigens, antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgE, IgD, IgA), proteins, electrolytes, and hormones. It can be stored for months.

Functions

In the medical field, the serum is used to diagnose a number of diseases like sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, etc.
It is also used to find the type of blood group.

Extraction

To extract serum, take a small amount of blood sample in a test tube. There is no need to add any anticoagulant. Centrifuge it for some time. After 30 minutes of centrifuging, blood will clot. It will show two types of layer. The upper layer is that of serum and the lower layer is that of clotted blood. Extraction of serum is tough and more time-consuming.

Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is concluded that both plasma and serum are important components of blood but with their own set of functions. Plasma is the fluid part of blood with clotting factors like fibrinogen and used for transfusion to patients. The serum is that liquid part of the blood which is devoid of clotting factors and is used for diagnosing diseases the blood type.