Bottle Cap Color Meaning

Question 1

Royal Blue

Answer 1

Additives: Heparin, EDTA, or None
Tests: Toxicology, Trace Metals, Nutritional Analysis

Question 2

Tan

Answer 2

Additive: Heparin
Tests: Lead Analysis

Question 3

Orange BD Hemogard Closure or Yellow-Gray

Answer 3

Additive: Clot Activators/ Polymer Gel
Tests: STAT Chemistry

Question 4

Yellow (NONSTERILE)

Answer 4

Additive: Acid Citrate and Dextrose
Tests: Human Leukocytes Antigen (HLA) studies

Question 5

Gold BD Hemogard Closure or Red-Gray

Answer 5

Additive: Clot Activator/ Polymer Gel
Tests: Most Chemistry Tests

Question 6

Gray

Answer 6

Additive: Antiglycolytic agent (idoacetate or sodium fluoride) that preserves glucose, perhaps the anti coagulation potassium oxalate or heparin
Tests: Lactic Acid Measurements, Glucose Tolerance Test, FBS, Blood Alcohol Levels

Question 7

Black

Answer 7

Additive: Buffered Sodium Citrate
Tests: Sedimentation Rate

Question 8

Green

Answer 8

Additive: Sodium Heparin, Lithium Heparin, Ammonium Heparin
Tests: STAT and routine Chemistry Tests, Ammonia, Electrolytes, Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs)

Question 9

Light Green or Green-Gray

Answer 9

Additive: Lithium Heparin/ Polymer Gel
Tests: STAT and Routine Chemistry Tests

Question 10

Pink

Answer 10

Additive: K2EDTA
Tests: Blood Bank Compatibility Test

Question 11

Red

Answer 11

Additive: Clot Activators in Plastic; none in glass
Tests: Chemistry, Serology, Blood Bank

Question 12

Yellow (STERILE)

Answer 12

Additive: Sodium Polyanetholesulfonate to inhibit complement and phagocytosis
Tests: Recover Microorganisms causing blood infection

Question 13

Lavender

Answer 13

Additive: EDTA (Anticoagulant)
Tests: CBC, Sedimentation Rate, Routine Immunohematology

Question 14

White

Answer 14

Additive: Polymer Gel with EDTA
Tests: Viral Loads

Question 15

Light Blue

Answer 15

Additive: Sodium Citrate (anticoagulant)
Tests: Coagulation Tests Prothrombin Time (PT)