Question

When you add liquid reagent to a serum sample, what happens?

1) it causes evaporation and a desiccated product that can be viewed microscopically.
2) it clots and solidifies the sample.
3) the chemical reaction produces a colored chemical product.
4) it preserves the sample for shipment to a laboratory.

Answer 1

When a liquid reagent is added to a serum sample, possible reactions can include a color change, gas production, precipitate formation, or an energy transfer. The outcome varies with the type of test being performed, like hemagglutination assays or sedimentation for blood sample analysis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you add a liquid reagent to a serum sample, multiple reactions can occur depending on the reagent's nature and the purpose of the test. Some potential outcomes when a reagent is added to a serum sample include:

• A color change signaling a chemical reaction.
• Production of a gas, often seen as bubbles.
• Formation of a precipitate, which is a solid product of the reaction.
• Energy transfer, which can manifest as temperature changes or light being produced.

Different types of tests have different targets and reactions. For instance, in a hemagglutination assay, the serum might show clumping of red blood cells due to the presence of certain viruses. In another scenario, when collecting blood samples, serum is separated from the blood cells through a process called sedimentation, in which blood cells fall to the bottom of the tube, allowing the serum to be harvested for analysis.