Blood Sample Stock Photo

Blood samples are collected for measurement of blood lipids and glucose. For lipid measurements, serum should be used in preference to plasma to avoid the diluting effect of anticoagulants, which results in about 3% difference in concentrations. Nevertheless, some countries may have special reasons to use plasma, e.g. to retain comparability with the earlier surveys. For glucose measurement, plasma is used and glycated hemoglobin measurement requires whole blood.