Question

Valerie is preparing a blood sample for analysis. She wants to separate the solid red blood cells and obtain only the liquid portion, called plasma. The red blood cells are too small to filter out, but are denser than the plasma.
Describe the steps Valerie could take to separate the blood sample.

Answer 1

First, she should put the sample in a test tube and place it in a centrifuge. This would cause the red blood cells to move to the bottom because of their higher density. Next, she would be able to decant the plasma and analyze it separately from the red blood cells.

Answer 2

Paraphrased Answer:

She must first place the sample in a test tube and spin it in a centrifuge. Because of their greater density, red blood cells would end up at the bottom. She would then be able to distinguish the plasma from the red blood cells as well as study it individually.