buffy coat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Specialized
Quick answer
What does “buffy coat” mean?
The thin, light-colored layer of white blood cells and platelets that forms between the plasma and red blood cells in a centrifuged blood sample.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The thin, light-colored layer of white blood cells and platelets that forms between the plasma and red blood cells in a centrifuged blood sample.
In broader medical contexts, it can refer to the concentrated layer of leukocytes and platelets obtained from blood, used for diagnostic testing or therapeutic procedures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling remains the same.
Connotations
Purely technical, clinical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Identically low frequency, confined to medical/laboratory contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “buffy coat” in a Sentence
The buffy coat is harvested from the sample.A buffy coat forms after centrifugation.To examine/isolate the buffy coat.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “buffy coat” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The buffy coat layer is often used for DNA extraction.
- A buffy coat preparation was examined under the microscope.
American English
- The buffy coat sample was sent for genetic testing.
- We need a buffy coat smear for this analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers, textbooks, and laboratory manuals.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of medical professionals explaining test procedures.
Technical
Core term in clinical hematology, phlebotomy, transfusion medicine, and diagnostic laboratories.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “buffy coat”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “buffy coat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “buffy coat”
- Misspelling as 'buffie coat' or 'buff coat'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The blood was buffy coated.').
- Confusing it with 'buffy' from pop culture (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an exclusively medical/laboratory term with no everyday or figurative usage.
It uses 'coat' in an older sense meaning 'a layer covering a surface', similar to a 'coat of paint'. It 'coats' the top of the red cell layer.
Yes, in a centrifuged tube of blood, it is visible as a very thin, whitish to light grey layer between the red cell pellet and the plasma.
It is used to concentrate white blood cells for diagnostic tests (e.g., detecting parasites, genetic testing) and in some therapeutic procedures like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
The thin, light-colored layer of white blood cells and platelets that forms between the plasma and red blood cells in a centrifuged blood sample.
Buffy coat is usually technical/specialized in register.
Buffy coat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʌf.i kəʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʌf.i koʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a winter COAT the colour of BUFFalo leather (pale yellow-brown) sitting between a red blanket (red cells) and clear water (plasma).
Conceptual Metaphor
LAYER AS A GARMENT (the blood components are 'clothed' in layers).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary constituent of the buffy coat?