How blood clots: Home practical introduction

In this video Dr Natasha Barrett introduces the second of the home practicals.

First, we’ll look at blood in its complete state and separate it into each of its components – the three different types of blood cells suspended in plasma that we covered in Week 1’s step about Blood. We’ll then see what happens to whole blood when it is exposed to thrombin, an enzyme in the body that causes it to clot. Lastly, we’ll look more closely at the two components of blood that are responsible for clotting: the plasma and platelets.

A full list of the items needed for the practical will be available before the start of the exercise.