Final answer:
Cloudy serum is often referred to as lipemia and generally indicates high levels of lipids in the blood. During blood processing, serum is obtained by allowing the blood to clot and then separating it from the clot and cells following centrifugation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When processing specimens for the morning run, the phlebotomist notes that there are several specimens exhibiting cloudy serum; this is commonly referred to as lipemia. Cloudiness in serum samples can often be caused by high levels of lipid or fat molecules in the blood, and it is a condition that can be associated with various metabolic states or disorders. During the processing of a blood sample, if blood is left to clot in a glass tube, the liquid component that is eventually harvested is serum, which is plasma without clotting factors. Over the course of approximately one hour, the clotting factors within the plasma activate and form a clot, effectively separating the formed elements (cells and platelets) from the clear liquid (plasma). After centrifugation, the buffy coat, a thin, pale layer that contains leukocytes and platelets, forms between the plasma and the erythrocytes. In some instances, leukocytosis (an increase in white blood cells) is an expected finding, indicating a possible infection or inflammation.