Serum appears pink primarily due to hemolysis, a process where red blood cells break down, releasing their contents into the surrounding fluid.
Understanding Hemolysis and Serum Color
Normally, serum (the liquid part of blood after clotting) has a straw-like color. However, when red blood cells rupture, hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein within red blood cells) escapes into the serum. This released hemoglobin tints the serum pink or red.
- Normal Serum: Straw-colored.
- Hemolyzed Serum: Ranges from faint pink to bright red, depending on the extent of red blood cell damage.
Hemolysis Explained
Hemolysis occurs when the membrane surrounding red blood cells is disrupted, leading to the release of intracellular components, including hemoglobin, into the serum or plasma.
