American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnician Certification Practice Exam

The gel present in a serum separator tube primarily aids in which of the following functions?

1. Enhancing specimen color

2. Preventing glycolysis

3. Facilitating clot formation

4. Reducing sample volume

The correct answer is: Preventing glycolysis

The gel present in a serum separator tube is specifically designed to create a physical barrier between the serum and the cellular components of blood after centrifugation. Its primary function is to prevent contamination between the serum and blood cells, ensuring the integrity of the serum sample for laboratory testing. While the primary purpose is not explicitly to prevent glycolysis, the gel does help maintain the stability of the sample by allowing it to clot and then separating the serum from the cells. This separation minimizes cellular metabolism and consequently reduces the risk of alterations in glucose levels due to glycolysis. Therefore, while the gel's role can indirectly contribute to the prevention of glycolysis through this separation, it is not its main purpose. The gel serves crucial functions such as supporting clot formation, which allows for clear separation of serum after centrifugation, thus enhancing the accuracy of biochemical assays performed on the serum. This is why the function associated with the gel primarily pertains to aiding in the clarity and integrity of the sample rather than impacting factors like color enhancement or sample volume reduction.