The original caption may contain language which is historic and which may no longer be considered appropriate. It has been retained in the record in the interest of historical accuracy.
The caption on the reverse of the photograph reads: “Serum production from blood bank residues. Pix shows plasma being withdrawn into sterile Winchesters containing filtering beads and calcium chloride.”
The outbreak of the Second World War prompted work investigating the division of blood into its constituent parts; whole blood was difficult to transport, particularly overseas. The transportation and storage of liquid plasma, which contains important factors for clotting including the protein fibrinogen, is more efficient but still has difficulties. Serum is a part of the blood which is similar in composition to plasma but excludes the clotting factors of blood. It is produced by allowing the blood to clot and removing the clot. Later, dried constituents of blood were introduced, with the benefits of stability, more economical storage and transportation, and ease of preparation. See also MED01/01/2994 and MED01/01/2996-3001. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.
This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series Of Prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley
Hospital, Laboratory, Health And Welfare, Science And Technology, People At Work