Table of Contents
What color tubes go with what lab tests?
Blood Collection Tubes
| Tube cap color | Additive |
|---|---|
| Red or gold (mottled or “tiger” top used with some tubes) | Serum tube with or without clot activator or gel |
| Green | Sodium or lithium heparin with or without gel |
| Lavender or pink | Potassium EDTA |
| Gray | Sodium fluoride, and sodium or potassium oxalate |
What tube top is used for CBC?
Lavender top tube – EDTA EDTA is the anticoagulant used for most hematology procedures. Its primary use is for the CBC and individual components of the CBC. The larger 6 mL tube is used for blood bank procedures.
What is sodium heparin tube test for?
Green top tube with sodium or lithium heparin: used for plasma or whole blood determinations. EDTA tubes: includes Lavender top, Pink top (used for blood bank testing), Tan top (used for lead testing), and Royal Blue top with EDTA (used for trace metal whole blood or plasma determinations).
What color tube is used for CMP test?
Red-top tube or green-top (lithium heparin) tube is acceptable.
What is the purple top tube used for?
The purple top tube provides blood for infectious disease tests and ascertaining important data such as ABO/Rh (blood type), as well as whether the blood is positive or negative for cytomegalovirus (CMV), HIV, hepatitis, and West Nile virus, to name a few.
What is the correct order of draw tubes only?
The order of draw is based on CLSI Procedures and Devices for the Collection of Capillary Blood Specimens; Approved Standard – Sixth Edition, September 2008. This standard recommends that EDTA tubes be drawn first to ensure good quality specimen, followed by other additive tubes and finally, serum specimen tubes.
How long is a CBC specimen good for?
Specimen stability: CBC: Refrigerated: 72 hours. Room temperature: 24 hours. DIFF: Refrigerated: 72 hours. Room temperature: 24 hours.
What color tube is blood culture?
PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES
| STOPPER COLOR | CONTENTS | VOL. |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Culture Bottles are ALWAYS drawn prior to other labs to reduce contamination. . | ||
| Royal Blue | No additive (serum); special glass and stopper material | 7.0 mL |
| Red | No additive | 7.0 mL |
| Light Blue | 3.2% Sodium Citrate | 4.5 mL |
What color tube is used for lipid panel?
Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top (lithium heparin) tube. Do not use oxalate, EDTA, or citrate plasma.
What color tube is used for sedimentation rate?
Preferred Specimen(s) Whole Blood (EDTA) 5 mL whole blood in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube (1.5 mL min). Gently invert tube 8-10 times immediately after drawing to prevent clotting.
What is a purple blood test for?
Laboratory Haematology tests
| Haematology investigation | Sample | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Folate (Biochemistry request) | Blood | Yellow |
| Full blood count (FBC) | Blood | Purple |
| Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) | Blood | Purple |
| Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) | Blood | Purple |
Which tube should I draw first?
EDTA tubes
The order of draw is based on CLSI Procedures and Devices for the Collection of Capillary Blood Specimens; Approved Standard – Sixth Edition, September 2008. This standard recommends that EDTA tubes be drawn first to ensure good quality specimen, followed by other additive tubes and finally, serum specimen tubes.
What kind of blood test is black top?
The tube contains sodium heparin as an anticoagulant. Black Top Tube (Vac-Tec): This tube is used for sed rates (ESR). The tube contains sodium citrate as the anticoagulant. Grey Top Tube: This tube is primary used for glucose testing.
Which is the best blood collection tube for reference testing?
Yellow Top Tube: This tube is used for certain reference tests requiring whole blood. It contains ACD (acid-citrate-dextrose) as the anticoagulant. Navy Blue Top Tube (No additive): This tube is used for certain reference tests. It is “metal free” and contains no anticoagulant.
What kind of blood is in a blue top tube?
Light Blue Top Tube: This tube is used for coagulation testing. The tube contains buffered sodium citrate as an anticoagulant. It is critical to test accuracy that the tube be filled completely. Inadequate amounts of blood in the tube can yield erroneous test results.
What kind of blood test is yellow top?
Yellow Top Tube: This tube is used for certain reference tests requiring whole blood. It contains ACD (acid-citrate-dextrose) as the anticoagulant. Navy Blue Top Tube (No additive): This tube is used for certain reference tests.