Application and Principle of Serum Separator Gel Extracted by Low-Speed Centrifuge

Release time:

2012-12-04

Overview:

Serum separation gel, when used with a low-speed centrifuge, forms an isolating layer between the serum and the blood clot under the action of centrifugal force. Early separation gels were made by adding silica powder to silicone oil and then adjusting the specific gravity accordingly.

　　Serum separation gel is a viscous fluid whose structure contains numerous hydrogen bonds, which form a network-like structure through hydrogen-bonding interactions. Under the action of centrifugal force, this network structure is disrupted, transforming the gel into a low-viscosity fluid. Once the centrifugal force is removed, the network structure reforms, restoring the gel to its high-viscosity state. This property is known as thixotropy. Leveraging this characteristic, a serum separation gel can be developed. When the separation gel is centrifuged together with coagulated blood in the same tube, it forms a gel-like barrier between the serum and the blood clot, effectively separating the two components. This not only improves the yield of serum but also allows the serum to be preserved in its original state, simplifying the clinical testing process and enhancing operational efficiency.

　　Today, medical laboratory testing technology has entered a new era of full automation and computerized management. In the field of clinical laboratory testing—whether in clinical chemistry, serology, immunology, or other assays—the specimens used generally require serum separation. Therefore, how to rapidly and efficiently separate large volumes of serum while simplifying the operational procedures has become an urgent issue that the medical laboratory community urgently needs to address. The application of serum-separation gels offers promising prospects for resolving this challenge.

　　Serum separation gel is a hydrophobic organic compound whose principle of action is as follows: Generally, the specific gravity of serum is about 1.02, while that of blood clots is around 1.08; the specific gravity of the separation gel itself is maintained at 1.05. Under the action of centrifugal force generated by a low-speed centrifuge, the separation gel forms an isolating layer between the serum and the blood clot. Early separation gels were prepared by adding silica powder to silicone oil and then adjusting the specific gravity accordingly. In 1973, the American company PECTON began marketing a gel made from silicone oil and silica, which was packaged in glass tubes. In 1982, Japan's Sekisui Chemical Industry and its peers replaced glass tubes with plastic ones, thus achieving commercialization. In 1991, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Dalian Clinical Laboratory Center collaborated closely to develop China’s first domestically produced serum separation gel. This gel received high recognition from the Clinical Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health, and after being put into clinical use, it was proven to fully meet the standards required for separation gels.

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