Final answer:
Plasma that appears cloudy or white in a spun microhematocrit tube is referred to as lipemic, indicating a high concentration of lipids in the blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a spun microhematocrit tube shows plasma that appears cloudy or white, it is referred to as lipemic. This condition indicates the presence of a high concentration of lipids in the blood. Hematocrit is a test that measures the percentage of red blood cells (RBCs), or erythrocytes, in a blood sample by spinning the sample in a specialized centrifuge. While polycythemia is characterized by an elevated RBC count, lipemia refers specifically to the appearance of the plasma after such centrifugation. The plasma should normally appear as a clear, pale, straw-colored fluid; however, when it is cloudy or resembles milk, this suggests lipids are present in high amounts.