Yellow, sterile x8
Tests: Blood culture
Additives: Sodium polyethanol sulfonate (SPS) to
inhibit complement and phagocytosis; acid citrate
dextrose, Sol’n A/B
Department: Microbiology
Specimen: Whole blood
Notes: Use this tube to recover microorganisms that
are causing blood infection; stabilize bacterial growth
Light Blue x3-4
Tests: Coagulation tests/studies
Additives: Sodium citrate 3.2% (glass); 3.8% (plastic)
[binds calcium to prevent clotting]
Department: Coagulation
Specimen: Plasma
Notes: Blood:anticoagulant – 9:1
Red, Plastic or Glass Tube x8
Tests: Chemistry, serology, blood bank
Additives: [Clot activators in plastic], none in glass
Department: Chemistry, serology, blood bank
Specimen: Serum
Notes: Clot formation in 30 mins
Gold BD Hemogard Closure or Red-Gray x5
Tests: Most blood chemistry tests
Additives: Clot activators, gel separator
Department: Chemistry
Specimen: Serum
Notes: Also called serum separators tubes (SSTs). Clot
activator shortens time for clot formation. Gel forms
barrier between cells and serum. Centrifuge after clot
formation.
Orange BD Hemogard Closure or Yellow-Gray x8
Tests: Stat chemistry
Additives: Thrombin (clot activator)
Department: Chemistry
Specimen: Serum
Notes: Used for pts on anticoagulant therapy.
Light Green Hemogard or Green-Gray x8
Tests: (Stat) potassium determination
Additives: Lithium Heparin (prevents clotting), gel
separator (prevents contamination)
Department: Chemistry
Specimen: Plasma
Notes: Also called plasma separator tubes (PSTs).
Green x8
Tests: Stat chemistry tests, ammonia, electrolytes,
arterial blood gases (ABGs), depending on heparin
additive
Additives: Sodium heparin, lithium heparin, or
ammonium heparin [inhibits thrombin formation to
prevent clotting]
Department: Chemistry
Specimen: Plasma
Lavender x8
Tests: Complete blood count (CBC), sedimentation rate
Additives: Liquid K2EDTA (glass); Spray-dried K2EDTA
(plastic) [calcium chelating agent]
Department: Hematology
Specimen: Whole blood
Pink x8
Tests: Antibody screen, compatibility test
Additives: Spray-dried K2EDTA (binds calcium)
Department: Blood bank
Specimen: Plasma or whole blood
Gray x8
Tests: Lactic acid measurement, glucose tolerance test,
fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood alcohol levels
Additives: Iodoacetate or sodium fluoride
(antiglycolytic agent) [preserves glucose/inhibit
glycolysis]; potassium oxalate or heparin
(anticoagulant/binds calcium)
Department: Chemistry
Specimen: Plasma
Notes: Iodoacetate preserves glucose for 24 hrs,
sodium fluoride preserves glucose for 3 days
Sodium fluoride  K2EDTA,potassium oxalate
Royal Blue x8
Tests: Toxicology, trace metals, nutritional analysis
Additives: Sodium heparin, Na2EDTA, or none
Department: Chemistry, toxicology
Specimen: Plasma or serum
Notes: Tubes are chemically clean/sterile, and the
stoppers are specially formulated to prevent the release
of small amnts of materials that could contaminate the
sample and give erroneous test results. Rubber stopper
contains low level of metals.
Tan x8
Test: Lead analysis/determination
Additives: Sodium Heparin (inhibits thrombin
formation)
Department: Chemistry
Specimen: Plasma

Yellow, Nonsterile
Tests: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) studies
(paternity testing and tissue typing)
Additives: Acid citrate dextrose
Department: Blood bank
Specimen: Whole blood
Notes: Dextrose nourishes and preserves RBCs, and the
citrate is an anticoagulant

Pearl
Tests: Viral loads
Additives: Polymer gel with EDTA
Department: Virology

White
Additive: K2EDTA and gel for plasma separation
Lab use: For use in molecular diagnostic test methods
(such as, but not limited to, polymerase chain reaction
[PCR] and/or branched DNA [bDNA] amplification
techniques.) Tube inversions ensure mixing of
anticoagulant (EDTA) with blood to prevent clotting.

Black
Tests: Sedimentation rate (though often done with a
lavender tube instead)
Additives: Sodium citrate
Department: Hematology
Specimen: Whole blood