The buffy coat in a spun hematocrit tube consists of:

The buffy coat in a spun hematocrit tube consists of:

• A. WBCs
• B. WBCs and platelets
• C. WBCs and nRBCs
• D. Platelets and nRBCs

Answer: (B)

When blood is spun in a hematocrit tube, components separate by density into three layers: plasma on top, a thin middle layer called the buffy coat, and red blood cells at the bottom. The buffy coat is the middle layer because it contains white blood cells and platelets, which are less dense than red blood cells but denser than plasma. So the buffy coat specifically comprises the white blood cells and platelets, sitting between the plasma and the red cell layer.

When blood is spun in a hematocrit tube, components separate by density into three layers: plasma on top, a thin middle layer called the buffy coat, and red blood cells at the bottom. The buffy coat is the middle layer because it contains white blood cells and platelets, which are less dense than red blood cells but denser than plasma. So the buffy coat specifically comprises the white blood cells and platelets, sitting between the plasma and the red cell layer.