Plasma

Question 1

What is plasma?

Answer 1

Liquid component of blood that makes up 55% of whole blood.

Question 2

How is plasma prepared?

Answer 2

Blood is collected, mixed with an anticoagulant and then centrifuged.

Question 3

What is serum?

Answer 3

Plasma without the clotting factors.

Serum = plasma - fibrinogen

Question 4

How is serum prepared?

Answer 4

Blood is left to clot and then centrifuged.

Question 5

What do serum tubes contain?

Answer 5

Silica coating to induce clotting. Gel to form physical barrier between serum and red blood cells.

Question 6

Serum vs plasma?

Answer 6

Serum better for longer storage. Serum takes longer to prepare.

Question 7

Functions of plasma?

Answer 7

Carries clotting factors and immune system molecules (antibodies and complement proteins). Maintains osmotic pressure. Carries products of metabolism, hormones and waste products. Carries endocrine hormones.

Question 8

What are the two major types of plasma protein?

Answer 8

Serum albumin and globulins.

Question 9

What does albumin do?

Answer 9

Transports lipids, hormones and ions. Maintains osmotic pressure of plasma. Transports fatty acids released from adipocytes so they can be used in cells in the process of beta oxidation.

Question 10

Where is alpha-1 antitrypsin produced?

Answer 10

Liver.

Question 11

What does alpha-1 antitrypsin do?

Answer 11

Inhibits proteases, protects tissues from enzymes.

Question 12

What can a deficiency in alpha-1 antitrypsin do?

Answer 12

Degration of lung tissue leads to loss in elasticity. This is because neutrophil elastase isn’t heavily inhibited due to the deficiency.

Question 13

What are haptoglobin and alpha 2 macroglobulin examples of?

Answer 13

Alpha-2 globulins.

Question 14

Function of haptoglobin?

Answer 14

Binds to haemoglobin released from erythrocytes, haptoglobin-haemoglobin complex is removed by the spleen.

Question 15

What disease is haptoglobin used as diagnostic marker?

Answer 15

Haemolytic anaemia.

Question 16

What does alpha 2 macroglobulin do?

Answer 16

Protease inhibitor that can inactivate fibrinolysis.

Question 17

What is transferrin an example of?

Answer 17

Beta globulin.

Question 18

What does transferrin do?

Answer 18

Transports dietary iron and iron released from iron stores in body.

Question 19

Complement proteins C3 and C4 are examples of?

Answer 19

Beta globulins.

Question 20

Immunoglobulins and c reative protein are examples of?

Answer 20

Gamma globulins.

Question 21

The most common ion in plasma?

Answer 21

Sodium ion.

Question 22

Most common ion in cells?

Answer 22

Potassium ion.

Question 23

What is calcium important for?

Answer 23

Cell signalling.

Question 24

What is magnesium important for?

Answer 24

Cofactor for enzymes.

Question 25

What can we use plasma for?

Answer 25

Biomarkers, passive immunotherapy.

Question 26

Intravenous Immunoglobulin G is used for what?

Answer 26

Treatment of auto immune disorders by clearing immune complexes. Protects against most of the common pathogens

Question 27

How is hyperimmune globulin created?

Answer 27

Donors are screened for high levels of IgG against a particular pathogen by using ELISA. The IgG fraction is isolated from the plasma of these donors and concentrated.