Valerie is preparing a blood sample for analysis. She wants to separate the solid red blood cells and obtain only the liquid por
tion, called plasma. The red blood cells are too small to filter out, but are denser than the plasma. Describe the steps Valerie could take to separate the blood sample.
Sample Response: First, she should put the sample in a test tube and place it in a centrifuge. This would cause the red blood cells to move to the bottom because of their higher density. Next, she would be able to decant the plasma and analyze it separately from the red blood cells.
<span>First, she should put the sample in a test tube and place it in a centrifuge. This would cause the red blood cells to move to the bottom because of their higher density. Next, she would be able to decant the plasma and analyze it separately from the red blood cells.</span>