Classification of Vacutainer tubes by color and function

Vacutainer tubes have gained their popularity due to their wide application and ease of use. The
venipuncture process using syringes and needles requires additional steps in blood analysis setup
like the preparation of adequate additives, which subsequently increases the chance of potential
errors during sample extraction and analysis.

Blood extraction tubes have color-coded caps. The color indicates blood additives inside the tube.
Additives are chemical compounds used for blood preservation during laboratory procedures.

The additives may include anticoagulants such as EDTA (Ethyl Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid),
sodium citrate or heparin. Some tubes contain a gel with density between those of blood cells and
blood plasma or serum. When a tube is centrifuged, blood cells sink to the bottom, covered by the
gel, whereas the plasma or serum accumulates at the top. When it comes to platelet analysis, tubes
with gel are not used. The cap color code is an internationally accepted standard, which is why
Vacutainer tubes are so widely used around the world.

Technical specifications
Code Model Cap color Vol. Material Dimensions Packaging

10.0.0190.01 368861 Lilac 2ml Plastic 13 x 75mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.02 366674 Black 5ml Glass 10.25 x 1 tube

120mm

10.0.0190.03 367740 Black 1,6ml Glass 13 x 75mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.04 366676 Black 1,8ml Glass 8 x 100mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.05 367704 Blue 4.5ml Glass 13 x 75mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.06 368857 Lilac 3ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.07 368860 Lilac 4ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.08 368492 Red 2ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.09 369032 Red 4ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.10 368815 Red 6ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.11 367896 Red 10ml Plastic 16 x 100 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.12 367955 Yellow 5ml Plastic 13 x 100 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.13 367953 Yellow 8,5ml Plastic 16 x 100 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.14 367957 Yellow 3,5ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.15 367756 Yellow 6ml Glass 13 x 100 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.16 368520 Yellow 2ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

10.0.0190.17 367869 Green 4ml Plastic 13 x 75 mm 1 tube

Black cap - Used during erythrocyte

sedimentation rate test (Sodium Citrate)
 Gray cap - Used for lactic acid and
glucose testing (Fluoride / EDTA)

Lilac cap - Used for hematological

procedures (K3 EDTA)
 Blue cap - Used for coagulation tests
(Sodium cutrate 3.8%)

Green cap - Used for plasma bioanalysis

(Heparin)
 Yellow cap - Used for chemical serum
analysis (silica - coagulation activator)

Red cap - Used in chemical, serological

and immunohematological procedures (silica - coagulation activator)