Phlebotomy Exam Prep 44, Plasma vs Serum — Key Differences

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference: Plasma contains fibrinogen because clotting is prevented with an anticoagulant, while serum lacks fibrinogen because the blood has clotted. - Why plasma from an anticoagulated tube (e.g., green top) is essential for STAT tests to ensure a rapid turnaround time, avoiding the 30-60 minute wait for a serum sample to clot. - How to identify the correct tube for each sample type: Anticoagulant tubes like lavender, green, or light blue tops yield plasma, whereas tubes with clot activators or no additives, such as red or gold SSTs, yield serum. - That specific tests require a specific sample; for example, coagulation studies (PT/INR) must use plasma to measure clotting factors, while other chemistry tests may require serum to avoid anticoagulant interference. - A helpful mnemonic to remember the difference: "Plasma Prevents Clotting, Serum Settles After." For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep