Turbidity in serum suggests elevation of which particles?

Turbidity in serum suggests elevation of which particles?

• A. Cholesterol
• B. Total protein
• C. Chylomicrons
• D. Albumin

Answer: (C)

Turbidity in serum is a sign of lipemia, where excess lipids are in the blood. The light-scattering particles responsible are lipoproteins, and the largest of these are chylomicrons. Chylomicrons are formed after fat intake and are rich in triglycerides, making the serum appear milky and cloudy. Their large size makes them scatter light effectively, producing the turbidity seen in lipemic samples. In contrast, albumin and total protein are soluble proteins that don’t form large, light-scattering particles, and while cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins, it doesn’t by itself cause this milky appearance.

Turbidity in serum is a sign of lipemia, where excess lipids are in the blood. The light-scattering particles responsible are lipoproteins, and the largest of these are chylomicrons. Chylomicrons are formed after fat intake and are rich in triglycerides, making the serum appear milky and cloudy. Their large size makes them scatter light effectively, producing the turbidity seen in lipemic samples. In contrast, albumin and total protein are soluble proteins that don’t form large, light-scattering particles, and while cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins, it doesn’t by itself cause this milky appearance.