The fluid which separates from blood, LYMPH, and other body fluids when clotting occurs (see COAGULATION; HAEMORRHAGE). PLASMA is the fluid of the blood, including FIBRIN, and carrying the circulating blood cells and PLATELETS.

Serum is a clear, yellowish fluid containing around 7 per cent proteins and globulins, small quantities of salts, fat, sugar, urea, and uric acid, and even smaller quantities of immunoglobulins, essential in the prevention of disease (see IMMUNITY; IMMUNOLOGY).