ACTIVITY 4

SPECIMEN COLLECTION & PROCESSING

PLASMA SERUM
Lighter than serum Light yellow
Anti-coagulated blood Coagulated blood
Less clearer Clearer
Present Fibrinogen,
Clotting factor,

No fibrinogen
Shorter to prepare Longer to prepare



ADVANTAGE OF SERUM OVER PLASMA
Avoid contamination with cations such as ammonia,
lithium, sodium, potassium which are present in plasma
Antigens are more present in serum
Serum is less likely to show hemolysis.
Serum does not contain anticoagulant which may draw
water out of cells and thereby dilute the sample.
Because of this, plasma values tend to be a little lower
than serum values
Some anticoagulants in plasma interfere with the
chemical reactions used to measure levels of the blood
constituents.
HEAT INACTIVATION
Process in which finished serum is placed in a heated
water bath and maintained at a temperature of 56C
for 30 minutes
Used in the past to inactivate the complement system
for immunoassays
To inactivate other undetermined inhibitors of cell
growth in culture such as complement, a group of
proteins present in sera that are part of the immune
response
But may also destroy heat labile growth factors,
vitamins, amino acids, and hormones present in
serum

WHY IS SUFFICIENT WASHING OF RBC
NECESSARY IN RCS PREPARATION?
The purpose of washing the RBC is to remove plasma,
which contains substance that may interfere with Ag-
Ab reaction
will remove residual plasma and cellular debris
Plasma may also interfere in the testing

COMMON CAUSES OF HEMOLYSIS

Use of non-sterile containers for collection or storage.
Contamination
Contamination of the sample by water.
A slow flow from the needle, due to obstruction of the
needle, or failure to insert into mid-vein.
Forcibly expelling blood through a needle.
Heating of samples, usually in car boots or through
back windows of car, or after prolonged exposure to
direct sunlight during collection.
Freezing.

HOW TO AVOID HEMOLYSIS
Do not centrifuge blood if it still has not clotted
properly.
Do not rim or ring the blood several times. This is one
major source of hemolysis.
Do not freeze whole blood right after collection.
Do not vigorously shake whole blood, to avoid
hemolysis in blood samples.
Do not expose the whole blood specimen to excessively
low and hot temperatures.
Do not prolong tourniquet application more than
necessary.
TEST DONE IN SEROLOGY REQUIRING:
SERUM
o Direct agglutination
o Indirect agglutination
o Coagulation
o Rapid plasma reagin
o Latex agglutination
o Widal test
o Hemagglutination inhibition test
RCS
o ABO and RH typing
o Identification panel test cell
o Indirect antiglobulin test
o Direct antiglobulin test