Serum (blood) facts for kids
Serum is a clear, yellowish liquid that is a very important part of your blood. Think of it as the liquid part of blood, but without the red blood cells, white blood cells, or the special stuff that makes blood clot (like fibrinogen).
Serum contains many useful things that help your body work, such as proteins, electrolytes (like salts), antibodies (which fight off germs), antigens, and hormones. It can also contain other substances like medicines or even tiny microorganisms if someone is sick.
Scientists study serum to learn about our health. This study is called serology. Serum is used in many medical tests to help doctors figure out what's going on inside your body. It's also used for blood typing to make sure blood transfusions are safe.
How is Serum Made?
To get serum, blood is collected and then allowed to clot. After it clots, the blood is spun very fast in a machine called a centrifuge. This spinning separates the heavy blood cells and the clot from the lighter, clear serum.
If blood is treated with something to stop it from clotting (an anti-coagulant), then spinning it gives you plasma instead of serum. Plasma is similar to serum but still contains fibrinogen and other clotting factors. Serum is plasma without these clotting factors.
Why is Serum Important?
Serum plays a big role in medical science and research.
Medical Tests
Doctors use serum for many diagnostic tests. For example, they can test serum to:
- Check for antibodies to see if you've had certain infections or if you're immune to them.
- Measure hormone levels to check how your glands are working.
- Look for signs of disease, like high cholesterol or problems with your kidneys or liver.
- Determine your blood type before a blood transfusion.
Stem Cell Research
Serum is also important in laboratories for growing embryonic stem cells. These are special cells that can turn into many different types of cells in the body. When serum is mixed with a special protein called leukemia inhibitory factor, it helps these stem cells stay healthy and keep their ability to change into other cells.
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