Clin Lab Tets Tubes

purple top

Additive: EDTA Mode of action: forms calcium salts, removing calcium from blood Uses: hematology and blood bank cross-matching, requires full draw and 8 inversions to prevent coltting

dark blue top

Additive: EDTA Mode of action: has no contaminating metals Uses: test for trace elements such as zinc, copper, lead, mercury; toxicology

yellow top

Additive: acid-citrate dextrose (ACD) Mode of action: complement pathway inactivation Uses: HLA tissue typing, paternity testing, DNA studies

yellow and black top

Additive: broth mixture Mode of action: preserves microorganisms Uses: microbiologic identification of aerobes, anaerobes, fungi

black top

Additive: buffered sodium citrate Mode of action: forms calcium salts to remove calcium Uses: westergren sedimentation rate, requires full draw

light green top (plasma separating tube-PST)

Additive: lithium heparin Mode of action: lithium heparin acts as an anticoagulant; plasma is separated with PST gel at bottom Uses: chemistry

red top

Additive: none Mode of action: clots naturally with serum being separated by centrifugation Uses: chemistry, immunology, serology cross-matching at blood bank

gold top

Additive: none Mode of action: gel at bottom separates blood from serum during centrifugation Uses: chemistry, immunology, serology

pink top

Additive: potassium EDTA Mode of action: forms calcium salts Uses: immunohematology

white top

Additive: potassium EDTA Mode of action: forms calcium salts Uses: molecular/PCR and bDNA testing

light blue top

Additive: sodium citrate Mode of action: forms calcium salts to remove calcium from blood Uses: coagulation tests (PT, PTT), full draw required

light gray top

Additive: sodium fluoride, potassium oxalate Mode of action: antiglycolytic agent, preserving glucose up to 5 days Uses: measure glucose, requires full draw

light brown top

Additive: sodium heparin Mode of action: inactivates thrombin and thromboplastin; contains nearly no lead Uses: measuring serum lead

green top

Additive: sodium heparin or lithium heparin Mode of action: inactivates thrombin and thromboplastin Uses: measures lithium level (add sodium heparin), or measures ammonia (use either additive)

orange top

Additive: thrombin Mode of action: quickly clots blood Uses: STAT serum chemistries

tubes with no additives

red, gold tops

purple, dark blue tops

which tubes have EDTA as an additive?

pink, white tops

which tubes have potassium EDTA as an additive?

light blue, black tops

which tubes have sodium citrate as an additive?

light brown, green tops

which tubes have sodium heparin as an additive?

purple, light blue, light gray, black tops

which tubes require a full draw?

purple, light blue, black, pink tops

which tubes use form calcium salts to remove calcium?