Vacutainer Tubes

Question 1

Red

Answer 1

Additives: None
Mode of action: Blood clots
Uses: Chemistry, Immunology and Serology, Blood Bank

Question 2

Gold

Answer 2

Additives: None
Mode of action: Serum separator tube (SST), to separate blood from serum
Uses: Chemistry, Immunology and Serology

Question 3

Light Green

Answer 3

Additives: Plasma Separating Tube (PST) with Lithium Heparin
Mode of action: Coagulates with Lithium Heparin, Plasma is separated
Uses: Chemistry

Question 4

Red/Gray

Answer 4

Additives: EDTA
Mode of action: Forms calcium salts to remove calcium
Uses: Hematology, Blood Bank,
Invert: 8

Question 5

Light Blue

Answer 5

Additives: Sodium Citrate
Mode of action: Forms calcium salts to remove calcium
Uses: Coagulation tests (Protime, Prothrombin)
Invert: 8

Question 6

Dark Green

Answer 6

Additives: Sodium Heparin/Lithium Heparin
Mode of action: Inactivate thrombin and thromboplastin
Uses: Lithium Level (sodium), Ammonia level (Lithium)

Question 7

Dark Blue

Answer 7

Additives: Sodium EDTA
Mode of action: contain NO contaminating metals
Uses: Trace element/metals testing (Zinc, Copper, Mercury), Toxicology

Question 8

Yellow

Answer 8

Additives: Acid citrate dextrose (ACD)
Mode of action: Complement inactivation
Uses: HLA tissue typing, paternity testing, DNA studies

Question 9

Orange

Answer 9

Additives: Thrombin
Mode of action: Quickly clots blood
Uses: STAT serum chemistries

Question 10

Brown

Answer 10

Additives: Sodium Heparin
Mode of action: Inactivates thrombin and thromboplastin
Uses: Serum lead determination

Question 11

Light Green

Answer 11

Additives: Sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate
Mode of action: Antiglycolytic agent preserves glucose up to 5 days
Uses: Lithium level, Use sodium heparin Glucose
Invertion: 8