Blood Collection Tubes
| Tube cap color | Additive | Common laboratory tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender or pink | Potassium EDTA | Hematology and blood bank |
| Gray | Sodium fluoride, and sodium or potassium oxalate | Glucose (especially when testing will be delayed), blood alcohol, lactic acid |
What blood tube colors are for which test?
The tests each bottle is used for are the same: the purple one is for cell count, the yellow one is for electrolytes, albumin and LDH, the grey one is for glucose, and blood culture bottles can be used for fluid cultures.
What labs can go in the same tube?
The following tests may be drawn in the same Lavender (Purple) top tube: CBC, SED Rate (ESR), Reticulocyte. Draw an extra lavender for each Glycohemoglobin and BNP. EDTA Sodium fluoride (serum tube) For glucose determinations. Oxalate and EDTA anticoagulants will give plasma samples.
What color tubes are used for which tests in phlebotomy 2020?
The recommended order is as follows:
- Blood culture tubes.
- Sodium citrate tubes (e.g., blue-stopper)
- Serum tubes with or without clot activator, with or without gel separator (e.g., red-, gold-, speckled-stopper)
- Heparin tubes with or without gel (e.g., green-stopper)
- EDTA tubes (e.g., lavender-stopper)
What is each tube used for in phlebotomy?
PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES
| STOPPER COLOR | CONTENTS | USES/COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Sodium heparin(100 USP Units) | Ammonia, Lactate, HLA Typing |
| Tan | K2 EDTA | Lead levels |
| Yellow | ACD Solution A consists of trisodium citrate, citric acid and dextrose | DNA Studies, HIV Cultures |
| Pink | (K2)EDTA | Blood type & Screen, Compatibility Study, Direct Coombs HIV Viral Load |
What is a yellow top blood tube for?
Yellow-top tube (ACD)
This tube contains ACD, which is used for the collection of whole blood for special tests. NOTE: After the tube has been filled with blood, immediately invert the tube 8-10 times to mix and ensure adequate anticoagulation of the specimen.
What does green top tube test for?
Green Top Tube: This tube contains lithium heparin as an anticoagulant, and is used for certain hematology, chemistry and virology tests. Light Green Top Tube (PST): This tube is used for serum HCGs and other routine chemistry tests. The tube contains lithium heparin as an anticoagulant.
What tubes do you use for a CBC and CMP?
Gel-barrier tube is preferred (send entire tube). Red-top tube or green-top (lithium heparin) tube is acceptable.
What color tube is ferritin?
Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top (lithium heparin) tube.
What tube is BMP drawn in?
Gel-barrier tube (send entire tube) is preferred. Red-top tube or green-top (lithium heparin) tube is acceptable.
What color tube is CBC with diff?
lavender
Specimen required: EDTA lavender-top tube or microcollection tube.
What is a EDTA tube?
It’s a tube coated with spray-dried K2EDTA on its inner wall. EDTA acts as an anticoagulant, binding the calcium ions and interrupting the clotting of the blood sample. EDTA is used for most hematology procedures, assessing complete blood count, preparing EDTA plasma, whole blood collection and bone marrow specimens.
What are blue top tubes used for?
Blue Top – Tube contains Sodium Citrate.
Most often used for coagulation studies. Must be drawn prior to collection of serum tubes to prevent contamination with clot activator and interference with coagulation cascade.
What is in a tiger top tube?
Serum Separator Tube (SST) (Tiger Top): Does not contain an anticoagulant but contains a clot activator and serum separator gel. This tube is used for collecting serum.
What is a gray top tube?
A blood collection tube containing powdered sodium fluoride and/or potassium oxalate, which inhibits glycolysis; ‘gray tops’ are used for glucose tolerance testing because glycolysis in the red cells would cause false-low glucose, for measuring lactate—transported on ice—lactate tolerance.
What tube does a lipid panel go in?
Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top (lithium heparin) tube. Do not use oxalate, EDTA, or citrate plasma.
What is CBC with differential platelet?
Listen to pronunciation. (… dih-feh-REN-shul) A measure of the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including the different types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils).
Which tube is used for electrolyte testing?
Specimen Requirements
Gel-barrier tube (send entire tube) preferred. Red-top tube or green-top (heparin) tube is acceptable if centrifuged within 45 minutes and the serum or plasma is removed and placed in a tightly-stoppered secondary tube.
What color tube is an iron level?
Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top (lithium heparin) tube.
What color tube is procalcitonin?
| PROCALCITONIN | |
|---|---|
| ORDERING INFORMATION: | Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2920 Geisinger Epic ID: 48115 |
| Preferred collection container: | 3 mL green/yellow-top (plasma separator) tube |
| Alternate Collection Container: | 3.5 mL gold-top (serum separator) tube |
| Specimen required: | 0.5 mL plasma (preferred) or serum |
What color tube is D dimer?
blue-top
| D-DIMER | |
|---|---|
| ORDERING INFORMATION: | Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2173 Geisinger Epic ID: 18327 |
| Specimen type: | Platelet-free plasma |
| Preferred collection container: | 2.7 mL blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube |
| Alternate Collection Container: | Other size blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tubes (e.g., 1.8 mL, 4.5 mL) |