Vacutainer

Vacutainer

          Common Blood Collection Tubes, their additives and Laboratory Uses.

1. Red :

Additive : None
Laboratory Uses : Serum testing; chemistry studies, blood bank, serology (RH Typing, Antibody screening, Red Cell Phototyping, DAT)

2. Yellow :
Additive : SPS (Sodium Polyanetholsulfonate)
What additive does : Prevents the blood from clotting and stabilizes bacterial growth.
Laboratory Uses : Blood and bodily fluid cultures (HLA, DNA, Paternity)

3. Light Blue:

Additive : Sodium Citrate
What additive does : Removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting
Laboratory uses: Coagulation (clotting process-P.T)

4. Green :
Additive : Heparin (Sodium/Lithium/Ammonium)
What additive does : Inhibits thrombin formation to prevent clotting
Laboratory uses : Chemistry Testing (Plasma determinations in chemistry)

5. Lavender :
Additives : EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)
What additive does : Removes calcium preventing clotting of blood
Laboratory uses : Hematology testing (ESR, CBC w/diff., HgBA1c)

6. Grey :
Additives : Potassium oxalate and Sodium fluoride
What additive does : Removes calcium preventing clotting, fluoride inhibits glycolysis
Laboratory uses : Chemistry testing, especially glucose(sugar) and alcohol (Glucose, Alcohol, GTT, Glucose fasting)

7. Royal Blue :
Additives : Sodium Heparin also Sodium EDTA
What additive does : Inhibits Thrombin formation to prevent clotting
Laboratory uses : Chemistry trace elements (such as Zinc, Copper, Lead and Mercury)

8. Black :
Additives : Sodium Citrate
What additive does : Forms calcium salts to remove calcium
Laboratory uses : ESR.

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