serum, plasma (more stupid questions)

[Guest guest]

Dear Jerry,

If you were looking at unlabeled tubes of serum and plasma how would you

distinguish between them--visually and otherwise?

Does it take more blood to get a given amount of serum than plasma? A lot more?

You wrote, " The tube for drawing blood for serum contains a plug in it

already. The

blood is allowed to clot, and then centrifuged. The clot and cells stay on

one side of the plug, and the serum goes thru the plug and comes out the

other side. "

Can you tell by looking at the plug that the serum will go through it? Does

it have little holes in it? One big hole? Or do they use one plug while the

blood is clotting and then put a different plug in it for the centrifuging?

Thanks,

Sue B.

upstate New York