Whole blood, plasma, and serum differ in both composition and preparation. Whole blood contains all circulating components, including cells and plasma, and thus reflects both cellular and extracellular lipid pools. Plasma is the liquid fraction obtained by centrifuging anticoagulated blood, retaining proteins such as fibrinogen. Serum, in contrast, is collected after clotting and lacks clotting factors, making its lipid content slightly different from plasma.

Lipidomics of whole blood provides a comprehensive overview of circulating and cellular lipid classes in a single sample. This includes phospholipids, neutral lipids, sphingolipids, lysophospholipids, and ether-linked lipids. Because it captures contributions from erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets in addition to plasma, whole blood lipidomics offers a systemic perspective on lipid metabolism.

Lipotype lipidomics expands this approach by generating highly detailed lipid profiles that can be compared across samples or populations. It enables the study of metabolic alterations in both plasma and cellular compartments, which is particularly valuable in complex conditions such as autoimmune and metabolic diseases. By capturing lipid signatures at a systems level, it supports the identification of disease-associated lipid markers and pathways.

Whole blood lipidomics is a powerful tool for investigating lipid biology. This approach allows researchers to move beyond isolated lipid fractions and instead analyze systemic lipid interactions, offering insights into health, disease progression, and potential therapeutic targets.