Module 12: Phlebotomy Tubes Order of Draw

Question 1

Yellow

Answer 1

• 1st
• Sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS)
• SPS for blood culture specimen collections in microbiology

Question 2

Light Blue

Answer 2

• 2nd (after yellow; blood culture)
• Sodium citrate (anticoagulant)
• Coagulation studies

Question 3

Red

Answer 3

• 3rd (after light blue)
• Plastic: clot activator
• Glass: no additive (plain)
• For serum determinations in chemistry
• May be used for routine blood donor screening and diagnostic testing of serum for infectious diseases

Question 4

Gold or tiger top (red-grey)

Answer 4

• 4th (after red)
• Serum separator tube (SST)
• Clot activator
• Thixotropic gel (creates barrier)
• For serum determinations in chemistry
• May be used for routine blood donor screening and diagnostic testing of serum for infectious diseases

Question 5

Green

Answer 5

• 5th (after gold/tiger top)
• Sodium heparin
• Lithium heparin
• For plasma determinations in chemistry

Question 6

Lavender

Answer 6

• 6th (after green)
• EDTA (anticoagulant)
• Whole blood hematology determinations, routine immunohematology testing, and blood donor screening

Question 7

Grey

Answer 7

• 7th (after lavender)
• Potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride
• Glucose testing (GTT)