Plasma Flashcards
What is serum?
Plasma minus the clotting factors- takes longer to prepare
What is plasma?
liquid component of blood that holds blood cells of whole blood in suspension
What are the functions of plasma?
Clotting
Immune defence
Osmotic pressure
Metabolism
Endocrine
Excretion
What type of drug can be used to stop the blood from clotting?
Anticoagulant
What 2 components do serum separator tubes have and what is the function?
Silica coating to induce clotting
Gel layer to form physical barrier between cells and serum
What separates the red cells from the plasma after the addition of an anticoagulant and centrifugation
Buffy coat
What is apheresis?
When blood of donor is collected and passed through centrifuge to separate particular cellular components
How is serum generated
Letting blood clot for several minutes (less coagulation factors and trapping cells and platelets within clot)
What is a buffy coat made out of?
Leukocytes and platelets
What are the differences between plasma and serum samples
Plasma faster to prepare
Serum cleaner
Name the 4 fluid compartments in humans
Intracellular (55%)
Interstitial (36%)
Blood Plasma (7%)
Transcellular (2%)
Where is interstitial fluid found?
Outside of cells- lymph drains
Why does interstitial fluid play an important role?
Carrying oxygen and nutrients to cells and acts as a vehicle for removal of cellular waste products
How is interstitial fluid drained and what is it known as when it is drained?
Through lymphatic vessels
Known as lymph
What do transcellular fluids include?
Cerebrospinal fluid
Occular Fluids
What is the most abundant plasma protein?
Albumin
Where is serum albumin produced?
Liver
What are the functions of serum albumin?
Transport of lipids, hormones & ions
Maintaining osmotic pressure of plasma
Transport of fatty acids released from adipose tissue lipolysis around body for tissues to use in beta oxidation
What is A1AT
Alpha 1 Antitrypsin
Where is A1AT produced?
Liver
What does A1AT do?
It inhibits the action of proteases such as those released by neutrophils
What do neutrophils release during inflammation?
Neutrophil elastase?
What is the effect of defective A1AT to the lungs?
Neutrophil elastase not inhibited by A1AT.
Damages tissue of the lungs causing loss of elasticity and respiratory problems
What is the function of Alpha 2 macroglobulin
Broadly active protease inhibitor which inactivates fibrinolysis
What is the function of Haptoglobin (Alpha-2)
Binds to Hb released from erythrocytes and spleen removes the complex
What can be used to diagnose haemolytic anaemia?
Haptoglobin measurement
Give examples of beta globulins
C3
C4
Transferrin
What is the role of transferrin?
Transportation of iron
Where is transferrin generated?
Liver
What are the 2 main gamma globulins?
Immunoglobulins
C-Reactive Protein
What is the most plentiful cation in plasma
Na +
What balances the charge of intracellular K+
Extracellular Cl-
Various anions (proteins, phosphorylated proteins, nucleic acids)
Why is there typically an increase in intracellular Ca 2+
Signalling events due to opening of calcium channels allowing influx from extracellular
Release of intracellular stores
How are electrolyte gradients maintained?
Na+/K+ ATPase active transport
How many Na and K+ leave or enter the cell?
3 Na+ out
2 K+ in
What is the use of Mg 2+
Important cofactor in many enzymes
What is the main difference between composition of plasma and interstitial fluid?
Plasma contains more proteins
How can we therapise plasma?
Immunoglobulins can be used to transfer immunity between people
Donors are screened for high titres of IgG against pathogen which is isolated from plasma and concentrated
IV immunoglobulin G protects against common pathogens e.g MMR
Provide passive immunity to specific pathogen after high risk exposure
How can we therapise plasma in COVID?
COVID patients develop antibodies against virus and after recovery, blood is donated to recover antibody-rich plasma which is tested for strength (affinity) and number of antibodies, and if levels are fine, given to other patients
What is convalescent plasma
Plasma harvested from patient who has recovered from disease to be given to patient who is infected
What does convalescent plasma contain?
High levels of polyclonal antibodies which recognise the pathogen
What is convalescent plasma used for
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Prophylactic treatment
