6: blood collection tubes

Question 0

if the tube has a barcode what machine is it to be used in?

Answer 0

The idex machine

Question 1

1. lavender or purple tops (LTT , PTT) contain?

2. and are used for what?

Answer 1

1. anticoagulant EDTA

2. CBC and BUN

Question 2

LTT/PTT

what is the fluid portion if spun called?

Answer 2

plasma

Question 3

How does the anticoagulant EDTA work?

Answer 3

binds with calcium to prevent coagulation

Question 4

List 3 advantages of LTT/PTT tubes?

Answer 4

1. causes least amount of cell distortion/ destruction
2. best preservation of cells
3. fairly stable for 4-6 hrs

Question 5

list 3 disadvantages of LTT/PTT tubes?

Answer 5

1. after 6 hrs, WBC begin to break down and disintegrate
2. after 4 hrs, platelets swell and clump
3. incorrect blood to EDTA ratio causes cells to shrink

Question 6

special considerations for LTT/PTT tubes:

1. what should you do if not able to run tests immediately? Why?
2. what is the benefit of rotating the tubes gently and thoroughly?

Answer 6

1. refrigerate immediately. It minimizes cell damage

2. prevents clotting and hemolysis

Question 7

what do green top tubes (GTT) contain?

Answer 7

heparin which prevents conversion of prothrombin to thrombin

Question 8

what are the indicated uses of GTT tubes?

Answer 8

use in blood gas determination

example: CO2 and O2 levels

GREEN for GAS

Question 9

what is the fluid portion if spun in GTT tubes called?

Answer 9

plasma

Question 10

what are 3 advantages of GTT tubes?

Answer 10

1. maintains size and shape of RBC even in poor blood sample
2. best for blood gas reading, hormone, and drug levels in blood
3. used for reptile hematologic studies

Question 11

what are 3 disadvantages of GTT tubes?

Answer 11

1. causes hazy staining with routine type differential stains
2. WBC may clump
3. expensive

Question 12

if the GTT contains Lithium what will be its indicated use?

Answer 12

used for blood chemistries and in clinics that use the VET Test blood chemistry machine

Question 13

What do blue top tubes (BTT) contain?

Answer 13

anticoagulant Sodium Citrate

Question 14

in BTT how does the Sodium Citrate work?

Answer 14

binds with Calcium to prevent coagulation

Question 15

what is the indicated use for BTT tubes?

Answer 15

for coagulation studies

Question 16

what is the fluid portion in BTT if spun called?

Answer 16

citrated plasma

Question 17

What are 2 advantages of using BTT tubes?

Answer 17

1. used for most coagulation studies needing anticoagulated blood
2. non-toxic and can be used for blood transfusions

Question 18

what are 2 disadvantages of using BTT tubes?

Answer 18

1. shrinks cells

2. tube must be filled. ratio of blood to anticoagulant is crucial

Question 19

what do grey top tubes (GTT) contain?

Answer 19

anticoagulant Oxylate (NH4 or K)

Question 20

in grey top tubes how does oxylate work?

Answer 20

binds with calcium to prevent coagulation

Question 21

what is the indicated use for grey top tubes

Answer 21

blood glucose levels

GREY for GLUCOSE

Question 22

what is the fluid portion in grey top tubes called?

Answer 22

plasma

Question 23

what is the advantage to using grey top tubes

Answer 23

maintains cell wall integrity eliminating movement of glucose from plasma into the cell

Question 24

what are 4 disadvantages of grey top tubes?

Answer 24

1. K oxylate shrinks cells (K is smaller than NH4 so it shrinks) 2. NH4 oxylate swells cells (NH4 is bigger than K so it swells) 3. cannot be used for BUN due to NH4 4. Oxylate crystals seen on differential, so not able to use for CBC

Question 25

What do red top tubes (RTT) contain?

Answer 25

no anticoagulant so blood will clot some can have a gel substance in them and some can have a white powder in them

Question 26

since the blood clots in RTT and settles to the bottom, what is the fluid portion called?

Answer 26

Serum

Question 27

what is the indicated use for RTT tubes?

Answer 27

blood chemistry studies

Question 28

since RTT blood glucose studies are poor, what should you do?

Answer 28

you should draw up a Grey top tube as well

Question 29

if the RTT has a gel like substance in it, what is the tube called and what is the benefit of this?

Answer 29

Serum separator tube when spun the gel will act as a barrier not letting the clotted blood remix with the Serum. it can be used for glucose studies

Question 30

if a RTT does not have gel or white powder what can it be used for?

Answer 30

blood or urine

Question 31

what will a tiger top tube contain?

Answer 31

gel substance, no anticoagulant

Question 32

if a grey top tube has a blue liquid then what does it not contain?

Answer 32

oxylate

Question 33

if a green top tube has heparin in it what will the tube be made of?

Answer 33

glass

Question 34

if a green top tube has lithium in it what will the tube be made of?

Answer 34

plastic

Question 35

what are the 4 plasma colors

Answer 35

clear red yellow white

Question 36

what is the term and cause of a red plasma color

Answer 36

red term - hemolytic (ruptured blood cells) red cause- multiple errors

Question 37

what is the term and cause of a yellow plasma color

Answer 37

yellow term - Icteric yellow cause - Liver failure

Question 38

what is the term and cause of a white plasma color

Answer 38

white term - Lipemic white cause - Fat, diabetes, hypothyroidism

Question 39

if a plasma color is orange what is the term

Answer 39

red- hemolytic yellow - Icteric

Question 40

if the plasma color is pink what is the term

Answer 40

red - hemolytic white - lipemic

Question 41

if the plasma color is a cream color what is the term

Answer 41

yellow - Icteric white - Lipemic