Serum-separating tube

A Serum-separating tube (pronunciation: /ˈsɪərəm ˈsɛpəreɪtɪŋ tuːb/), also known as SST, is a type of blood collection tube used in medical laboratory testing to separate serum from blood cells after centrifugation.

Etymology

The term "serum-separating tube" is derived from its function. "Serum" refers to the clear, yellowish part of blood that remains after clotting, "separating" indicates the process of isolating the serum from the rest of the blood components, and "tube" refers to the vessel in which this process takes place.

Function

The serum-separating tube is designed to draw a patient's blood and then separate the serum from the blood cells during centrifugation. This is achieved by a special gel present in the tube that moves to create a barrier between the serum and the blood cells when the tube is centrifuged.

Related Terms

Blood collection tube: A tube used to collect blood samples for laboratory tests.
Centrifugation: A process that involves the use of the centrifugal force for the separation of mixtures.
Serum: The clear, yellowish part of blood that remains after clotting.
Blood cells: The cells that circulate in the blood. They are divided into three types: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Serum-separating tube
Wikipedia's article - Serum-separating tube

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Serum-separating tube