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  • Harvesting Protocol for Plasma and Serum

Harvesting Protocol for Plasma and Serum

  • Updated March 22, 2024
This protocol explains how to harvest plasma and serum for metabolomics and lipidomics assessments by Gigantest.

Table of Contents

Starting Sample Quantity

For targeted, untargeted lipidomics, metabolomics (endogenous metabolites), drug & chemical detection:

  • Minimum volume: 50 μL < sample volume < 250 μL 

The bigger the sample quantity, the better the chance of detecting metabolites with lower intensities. We recommend n=3-5 (at least) for preliminary data, n > 5 for publication. If you cannot have the recommended sample quantity, please let us know so we can find the best solution.

The following protocol is for ONE sample. To collect multiple samples, use multiple tubes for each step.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Plasma vs. Serum for Metabolomics

Serum

Advantages

  • Cleaner sample and more stable.

Disadvantages

  • Requires 30 minute for clot formation resulting in loss of metabolites.
  • Potential fibrin formation.

Plasma

Advantages

  • Faster processing time.

Disadvantages

  • Less stable when stored.
  • Still contains coagulation factors and may still contain some blood cells.

Collecting serum from whole blood

  1. Make sure you have the following materials before you start harvesting:
    • Golden cap serum tubes
    • Liquid nitrogen to snap freeze samples
  2. Invert the serum tube 10 times and allow blood to clot at room temperature undisturbed for 30 minutes.
  3. Centrifuge the serum tube at 1300g for 10 minutes at 4˚C to separate serum from blood cells.
  4. Transfer the supernatant to a 2 mL tube.
  5. Vortex the 2 mL tube and aliquot 200 μL of serum to several new 2 mL tubes
  6. Label the tubes "Serum - Sample Name / Code".
  7. Snap freeze the 2 mL tubes containing the serum sample and store at -80˚C in a sample box.

Collecting plasma from whole blood

  1. Make sure you have the following materials before you start harvesting:
    • Lavender cap plasma tubes
    • Liquid nitrogen to snap freeze samples
  2. Centrifuge the plasma tube at 1300g for 10 minutes at 4˚C to separate plasma from blood cells.
  3. Transfer the supernatant to a 2 mL tube.
  4. Vortex the 2 mL tube and aliquot 200 μL of plasma to several new 2 mL tubes
  5. Label the tubes "Plasma - Sample Name / Code".
  6. Snap freeze the 2 mL tubes containing the plasma sample and store at -80˚C in a sample box.

Packaging & Shipping

  • Place the sample boxes containing one aliquot of plasma or serum in a Styrofoam box full of dry ice making sure to surround the sample boxes on all sides.
  • Email the Sample Information Form to info@gigantest.com.
  • Ship via FedEx Priority Overnight or FedEx Standard Overnight, or other express carriers of your choice. Please include our phone number, (667) 312-2914, on the shipping label so that the carrier can contact us when they arrive at our location. Please also select the “Direct Signature Required” option under the “Signature options”.

Ship to:

Gigantest

31 Light Street

3rd Floor

Baltimore, MD 21202

If your samples are located in Maryland, please email Gigantest at info@gigantest.com or call (667) 312-2924 to arrange a sample pick-up. Make sure to keep the samples on dry ice.