40 - Katherine Anne A.

Sy

1G – MT

COLOR PICTURE OF TOP ADDITIVE USE OF ADDITIVE LABORATORY USE CONSIDERATIONS

Red Silica particles / no additive Clot activator Serum testing Gold top can be also used
(glass) Blood bank
Serology 5x inversions

Light Blue Sodium citrate Reversible Coagulation The tube is supposed to be filled
anticoagulant PT (prothrombin time) up to the line that is marked over
Binds and remove APTT / PTT (activated partial the edge otherwise the sample
calcium to prevent thromboplastin time) will be over-coagulated.
blood from clotting FDP (fibrinogen degradation
products) 3-4x inversions
TT (Thrombin Time)
Factor assays
Royal Blue Sodium Heparin Inhibits thrombin Toxicology Gold top can also be used
Sodium EDTA formation to prevent Trace elements (Zinc, Copper,
(ethylenediaminetetraacetic clotting Lead) 8x inversions
acid) Nutritional chemistry testing
Gold Silica particles
Serum separating gel
Clot activator Biochemistry Don’t panic if the blood starts to
Forms a physical CMP, Lipid Profile clot or separate in the bottle.
barrier between blood Hepatitis Profiles
cells and plasma HIV 5x inversions
Thyroid Profiles
Therapeutic drugs

Dark Green Lithium Heparin Anticoagulant Chemistry testing: This is not reliable to assess
Sodium Heparin Inhibits thrombin Ammonia, carboxyhemoglobin sodium levels
Ammonium Heparin formation to prevent & STAT electrolytes,
clotting chromosome screening, insulin, 8x inversions
renin, aldosterone

Light Green Lithium Heparin Anticoagulant Plasma determinations This is not reliable to assess
Plasma separator gel Forms a physical lithium levels
barrier between blood
cells and plasma 8x inversions

Lavender EDTA Removes calcium Hematology test (ECR, 1ml of blood is enough to do
(ethylenediaminetetraacetic preventing blood to clot CBC,FBC) FBC but to get an ESR you need
acid) Blood film for abnormal cells or a full purple bottle
malaria parasites Reticulocytes
Red cell folate 8x inversions
Monospot test for EBV,
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Pink EDTA Removes calcium Group & Save (G&S) It has a special label which
(ethylenediaminetetraacetic preventing blood to clot Crossmatch (XM) needs to be carefully filled in by
acid) Direct Coomb’s Test hand at the bedside to ensure the
correct patient details are used
and prevent mismatched blood
transfusions

8x inversions

Gray Sodium Fluoride Antiglycolytic agent Glucose Samples for venous lactate need
Potassium Oxalate Anticoagulant Lactate to be sent to the lab immediately

8x inversions

Tan Potassium EDTA contains virtually no Lead determination

lead 8x inversions
Orange Thrombin – based clot Quickly clots blood STAT serum chemistries w/ gel : 5-6x inversions
activator
w/out gel: 8x inversions

Yellow Acid citrate dextrose (ACD) Complement HLA phenotyping 8x inversions

inactivation Tissue typing
DNA analysis
Paternity testing

Black Sodium Citrate Forms calcium salts to Pediatric ESR 8x inversions

remove calcium
 White Potassium EDTA Separates plasma and Molecular diagnostic 8x inversions
Gel separator blood cells (DNA testing)

Clear No additive Discard bottle

ORDER OF DRAW:

yellow – blue – red – green – lavender - gray

References:
Common blood collection tubes, their additives and laboratory uses. (2019, January 28). Retrieved from https://laboratoryinfo.com/common-blood-collection-tubes-their-additives-
and-laboratory-uses/
Watson, L. J. (2018, September 07). Blood Bottles Guide. Retrieved from https://geekymedics.com/blood-bottles-guide/#7