Where is the buffy coat found in a properly centrifuged blood sample?

Where is the buffy coat found in a properly centrifuged blood sample?

• A. Between plasma and packed red cells
• B. Beneath the packed red cells
• C. Above the plasma
• D. Buffy coats are not seen on centrifuged samples

Answer: (A)

When blood is centrifuged, its components separate by density. Plasma is the lightest and sits on top, red blood cells are the heaviest and form the bottom layer, and in between lies a thin middle layer called the buffy coat, which contains white blood cells and platelets. Therefore, the buffy coat is found between the plasma and the packed red cells in a properly centrifuged sample. It’s usually a pale, whitish layer; it may be very thin if there aren’t many white cells, but the position remains between the plasma and the red cell layer.

When blood is centrifuged, its components separate by density. Plasma is the lightest and sits on top, red blood cells are the heaviest and form the bottom layer, and in between lies a thin middle layer called the buffy coat, which contains white blood cells and platelets. Therefore, the buffy coat is found between the plasma and the packed red cells in a properly centrifuged sample. It’s usually a pale, whitish layer; it may be very thin if there aren’t many white cells, but the position remains between the plasma and the red cell layer.