4 Collection Tubes and Order of Draw Free Online FlashCards

What do blood collection tube additives do?

Tube additives can prevent or promote clotting, separate cells from serum or plasma, or preserve an analyte for testing.

What is collected first in a venous draw?

Collect blood cultures first, using the laboratory’s sterile blood-culture procedure.

What is a light blue tube used for?

Light blue tubes contain sodium citrate and provide citrated plasma for coagulation tests.

What should you know about red-top tubes?

Red tubes contain no additive or a clot activator, depending on the tube, and are used to collect serum. Check the label.

What is the additive feature of a gold or tiger-top tube?

Gold or tiger-top tubes contain a clot activator and serum-separator gel; they are commonly used for chemistry and serology.

What additive is usually found in a green tube?

Green tubes contain heparin, usually lithium or sodium heparin, for plasma used in selected chemistry tests. The heparin type matters for some tests.

What distinguishes a light green tube?

Light green tubes contain lithium heparin and separator gel for plasma separation in selected chemistry tests.

What is a lavender or purple tube commonly used for?

Lavender or purple tubes contain EDTA and commonly collect whole blood for hematology tests such as a CBC.

What is a pink EDTA tube commonly used for?

Pink tubes contain EDTA and are commonly used for blood-bank testing; confirm the laboratory’s requirements.

What is a common use for a gray tube?

Gray tubes commonly contain sodium fluoride with potassium oxalate and are used for tests such as glucose, as specified by the laboratory.

What is the general venous order of draw?

The general sequence is blood cultures, sodium citrate, serum, heparin, EDTA, then glycolytic inhibitor, usually gray.

Why follow the venous order of draw?

Following the order reduces additive carryover between tubes. EDTA carryover, for example, can affect potassium or calcium measurements.