Human serum is the liquid fraction of blood obtained after coagulation and subsequent removal of the clot and cellular components. It contains a complex mixture of proteins, peptides, lipids, metabolites, hormones, antibodies, extracellular vesicles, and other circulating molecules that can reflect physiological and pathological states. Its molecular complexity makes human serum an important biospecimen for biomarker discovery, proteomics, metabolomics, immunology, oncology, cardiovascular research, and translational studies.
Key Features
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Complex serum proteome containing high- and low-abundance proteins and peptides relevant to systemic biology and disease research.
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Contains circulating extracellular vesicles and molecular cargo, supporting extracellular-vesicle and biomarker research, including liquid-biopsy investigations.
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Suitable for mass spectrometry-based proteomics, targeted protein analysis, metabolomics, and biomarker validation.
Typical Research Applications
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Biomarker discovery and validation.
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Serum proteomics and metabolomics.
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Cancer and cardiovascular research.
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Immunological and inflammatory studies.
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Disease profiling and translational research.
Pre-analytical variables, including collection tube type, time to processing, sample handling, and storage conditions, can influence serum measurements and should be controlled and documented for comparative studies.
