Medical Assistant Phlebotomy Basic Tubes

Gold/Tiger Top Tube

(a.k.a Serum Separator Tube/SST) Gel/Clot Activator, 5 inversions, chemistry tests, #2 in order of draw (Special attention needed for this tube, after inversion let it sit for 20 to 30 mins, before putting in centrifuge for 10 minutes. Then send to Lab)

Light Blue Tube (I)

3-4 inversions

Gold/Tiger Tube (I)

5 inversions

Gray Tube (I)

8-10 inversions

Green Tube (I)

8-10 inversions

Lavender Tube (I)

8-10 inversions

Gray Tube (T)

Alcohol Tests + Other Special Tests

Gold/Tiger Tube (T)

Chemistry Test

Light Blue Tube (T)

Coagulation Test

Green Tube (T)

Drug Testing

Lavender Tube (A)

EDTA

Lavender Tube

EDTA additive (Prevents Coagulation of Red Blood Cells), 8-10 inversion, used for complete blood count (Whole Blood), #4 in order of draw

Gray Tube (A)

Potassium Oxalate and/or Sodium Fluoride

Gray Tube

Potassium Oxalate or Sodium Fluoride, 8-10 inversion, used in Alcohol Tests and Special Tests, #5 in order of draw

Gold/Tiger Tube (A)

Serum Separate (Gel/Clot Activator)

Light Blue Tube

Sodium Citrate, 3-4 inversions, coagulation tests, #1 in order of draw

Light Blue Tube (A)

Sodium Citrite

Green Tube (A)

Sodium Heparin

Green Tube

Sodium Heparin, 8-10 inversion, used for finding Drug Levels, #3 in order of draw

Lavender Tube (T)

Whole Blood Count (WBC)