Question

What is the purpose of using a centrifuge in the Hematocrit Challenge?

1) To separate plasma from other components
2) To mix plasma with other components
3) To reduce the volume of plasma
4) To measure the viscosity of plasma

Answer 1

The use of a centrifuge in the Hematocrit Challenge is to separate blood plasma from other blood components for an accurate measurement of red blood cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of using a centrifuge in the Hematocrit Challenge is to separate plasma from other components of the blood. When a blood sample is spun in a centrifuge at high speeds, the heavy elements like red blood cells (RBCs), settle at the bottom of the tube. Above this is the buffy coat which contains WBCs (white blood cells) and platelets, and above the buffy coat is the blood plasma, which makes up the remainder of the sample. This separation is crucial for accurately measuring the percentage of RBCs in the blood sample, which is what a hematocrit test is designed to do.