PHLEB: Color Coding for Tube Tops Flashcards
RED TOP TUBE
No Additive (glass tube)
Clot Activator (plastic tube)
Inversions for Red Top Tube
0 inversions (glass tube)
5 inversions (plastic tube)
Sample for Red Top Tube
Serum
Blood Clotting time for Red Top Tube
60 minutes
After collecting the serum, let the sample stand by at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before centrifuge
Lab uses for Red Top Tubes
Serum determinations in chemistry
Blood donor screening (crossmatching)
Diagnostic testing for infectious diseases
Lab sections that use Red Top Tubes
Clinical Chemistry
Blood Bank
Immunoserology
GOLD OR MOTTLED-RED-GRAY TOP TUBES
clot activator
thixotropic gel separator (SST)
Sample for Mottled-Red-Grey Top Tube
Serum
Blood clotting time for Mottled-Red-Grey Top Tube
30 minutes
Lab uses for Mottled-Red-Grey Top Tube
Serum determination in chemistry
Blood donor screening (crossmatching)
Serum testing for infectious diseases
Inversions for Mottled-Red-Grey Top Tube
5 inversions
Tubes that sample serum
Red
Yellow
God or Mottled-Red-Gray
LIGHT BLUE TOP TUBE
Anticoagulant: 3.2 % sodium citrate
Sample for Light Blue Top Tube
Plasma
Inversions for Light Blue Top Tube
3-4 gentle inversions
Lab uses for Light Blue Top Tube
Clot-based/coagulation studies (PT and APTT)
mixing studies
ethanol gelation test
Lab sections that use Light Blue Top Tube
Hematology
GREEN TOP TUBE
Anticoagulant: heparin
Lithium heparin
Ammonium heparin
Sodium heparin
Sample for Green Top Tube
Arterial Blood
Inversions for Green Top Tube
8 full inversions
Must be full and transported on ice
Lab Uses for Green Top Tube
Plasma Determinations in Chemistry
PURPLE TOP TUBE
Anticoagulant: EDTA
Spray-coated K3EDTA (glass)
Liquid K2EDTA (plastic)
Sample for Purple Top Tube
plasma (blood bank or immunohematology)
whole blood (hematology)
Inversions for Purple Top Tube
8-10 full inversions
Lab use for Purple Top Tube
Hematology determinations (CBC)
Routine immunohematology testing
Blood donor screening (crossmatching)
Only test in Clinical Chemistry that uses Lavender Top
HBA1C
GREY-TOP TUBE
Anticoagulant: potassium oxalate monohydrate
Antiglycolytic : sodium fluoride
Sample for Grey-Tope Tube
Plasma and Whole blood
Inversions for Gray Top Tube
8-10 full inversions
Lab uses for Gray Top Tube
glucose determinations
lactic acid level determination
YELLOW TOP TUBE
Acid Citrate Dextrose
Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate
Lab uses for Yellow Top Tube
ACD:
Blood bank studies
HLA phenotyping
Paternity testing
DNA
SPS :
Used for special blood culture studies
Inhibits certain antibiotics
Inversions for Yellow Top Tube
8 full inversions
Sample for Yellow Top Tube
Plasma and Whole Blood
ORDER OF DRAW
Blood Culture or sterile tubes (yellow)
Coagulation tube (light blue)
Serum tube (red or gold)
Heparin tube (green or light green)
EDTA tube (lavender)
Oxalate/fluoride tube (gray)
Importance of Order of Draw
To prevent cross-contamination of samples
To prevent transfer of tissue thromboplastin
To prevent additive carry-over
To prevent contamination with microorganisms
Order of Draw memory jogger
Stop (sterile)
Light (light blue)
Red (red)
Stay (SST)
Put (PST)
Green (Green)
Light (Lavender)
Go (Gray)
