What is "serum"?

Serum is the clear, yellowish fluid that remains after blood has clotted and the clot has been removed. It contains water, electrolytes, antibodies, and various proteins essential for bodily functions, such as albumin and globulin. This fluid is important for transporting nutrients and hormones throughout the body and has a crucial role in immune response, helping to defend against infections and other foreign substances. In clinical settings, serum can be analyzed to evaluate levels of various substances such as electrolytes, hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. This information helps healthcare providers diagnose and monitor conditions such as kidney function, hormone imbalances, and autoimmune diseases. Researchers also use serum in studies to understand how diseases work, develop new tests for diagnosing illnesses, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.