Tubes

Question 1

Yellow

Answer 1

Additive: ACD
Use: Blood collection/donation, genetic testing

Additive: SPS
Cultures (blood, fecal, urine)

Plasma / whole blood

Invert 8-10 times

Question 2

Light blue

Answer 2

Additive: Sodium citrate

Use: Coagulation tests (PT/INR, APTT)

Must be full.

Question 3

Orange/gray or Yellow

Answer 3

Rapid Serum Test (RST)

Additive: thrombin / for STAT test

Question 4

Gold and Tiger tops (red/gray)

Answer 4

Additive: None. Silica?

Use: CMP

Note: Serum (requires 30 minutes for clot to form). These are Serum Separation Tubes (SST)

Question 5

Red

Answer 5

Additive: none

Use: blood cultures (BCX), drug levels, blood typing

Serum (requires 30 minutes for clot to form)

Question 6

Light Green

Answer 6

Plasma Separator Tube (PST)

Additive: lithium heparin / for STAT chemistry

Plasma

Question 7

Green

Answer 7

Additive: sodium heparin, lithium heparin, NH3+ ions

Use: Chemistry tests, electrolyte tests

Plasma

Question 8

Lavendar

Answer 8

Additive: potassium EDTA

Use: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR); Reticulocyte (immature RBCs) count; CBC (?)

Question 9

Anticoagulant additives

Answer 9

EDTA - calcium binding agent
Sodium citrate - calcium binding agent
Oxalates
Heparin - made in the liver

Question 10

Gray

Answer 10

Additive: anti-glycotic agent, anticoagulant

Use: blood glucose

Question 11

Order of draw

Answer 11

Yellow top (Blood cultures)
Light Blue top  (requires discard tube prior)
Tiger top (SST)
Red top 
Orange top (RST)
Gray tiger top (with heparin) 
Green top
Lavender (EDTA) (requires discard tube prior)
Pearl
Gray (Glucose)
Royal blue and/or Tan (metals)