Blood Tube Color

Color Name Agent Test Sample

Blue PT Tube (Sodium Sodium Citrate Hematology Whole blood
Citrate Tube) (1:9) • Coagulation test
• PT (Prothrombin Time)
• APTT (Activated Particle
Thromboplastin Time)
• D-dimer
Lavender EDTA Tube (K3EDTA K3EDTA Hematology Whole blood
Tube) (Tripotassium • Full Blood Count (FBC)
Ethylenediaminet • Erythrocyte Sedimentation
etraacetic Acid) rate (ESR)
• Blood smear
• Reticulocyte
• Prathyroid hormone
Purple K2EDTA Tube K2EDTA Hematology Whole blood
(Dipotassium • Full Blood Count (FBC)
Ethylenediaminet • Erythrocyte Sedimentation
etraacetic Acid) rate (ESR)
• Blood smear
• Reticulocyte
• Prathyroid hormone
Red Plain Tube (No No anticoagulant Biochemistry Serum
additive Tube) • Hormone
• Toxicology
• Drug level
• Bacteria
• Serology
• Antibody
Dark green Hepatin Tube Sodium heparin Biochemistry Heparinized
• Ammonia study plasma or
• Lactase srudy whole blood
• Insulin study
• Chromosome study
• Bone marrow study
• Renin & Aldosterone study

Light green PST Tube (Plasma Lithium heparin Biochemistry Separated

Separating Tube) • Ammonia heparized
• Basic Metabolic Panel plasma
(BMP)
• Comprehensive Metabolic
Panel (CMP)
• Electrolytes
• Hepatic function
 Gold SST Tube (Serum 1. Silica particles Biochemistry Separated
Separating Tube) (Clotting • Urea and electrolyte serum
activation cause • Amylase
blood cell to • Bone profile
clump together) • Magnesium
2. Serum • Iron
separating gel •Lipid profile
(Separate serum • Thyroid Function Test
and clotted blood (TFTs)
cell) • Creatinine kinase

Endocrinology
• Calcitonin, Cortisol, Sex
hormones, Growth hormone

Toxicology
• Ethanol, Cannabis,
Opiates, Benzodiazepines,
Cocaine, Amphetamine

Drug level
• Paracetamol, Aspirin
Microbiology or Virology
• Virus, Bacteria, Fungi,
Parasite

Immunology
• Immunoglobulin (Ig)
• Complement
• Autoantibody
• Rheumatoid factor
• Thyroid antibody
Pink EDTA Potassium EDTA • Crossmatch (XM) Whole blood
• Coombs test (for
immunohemolytic
anemia/autoimmune
hemolytic anemia)
Gray Fluoride Tube 1. Sodium floride Biochemistry Whole blood
(Glucose Tube) (antiglycolytic) • Glucose
2. Potassium • Lactose
oxalate
(anticoagulant)
Royal blue EDTA tube for trace EDTA • Heavy metal (Leads, Whole blood
metal analysis Mercury, Cadmium,
Arsenic,…)
• Nutritional study
Black ESR Tube (ESR Gel Sodium Citrate • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Whole blood
Separator Tube) (1:4) Rate (ESR)

Orange Rapid Serum Tube Thrombin-based • STAT serum testing Serum

clot activator

Yellow ACD Tube ACD (Acid-Citrate- • HLA tissue typing assay Whole blood
Dextrose) • DNA study
solution A

1. APTT (Activated Particle Thromboplastin Time) : a blood test used to assess how fast blood
clots.
2. BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel) : a test that measures 8 different substances in your body
(glucose, Ca, Na, K, CO2, Cl, blood urea nitrogen, & creatinine)
3. CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) : a test that measures 14 different substances in your
body (glucose, Ca, Na,K, CO2, Cl, albumin, total protein, Alkaline phosphate, Alanine
transaminase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, & creatinine)
4. Coombs test : a test used to find out if you have antibody against your red blood cell.
5. D-dimer : a test used to find out if you have a blood clotting disorder. (If positive it will be
Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism)
6. ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) : a rate at which red blood cells in anticoagulate
sedimented.
Normal : [Male = 0-22mm/hr] [Female = 0-29mm/hr]
7. Heparin : a group of medication used to prevent blood clot.
8. PT (Prothrombin Time) : a time which prothrombin makes blood clot.
Prothrombin is a protein made by liver as a clotting factor II.
9. HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigen) Tissue typing : a test used to match donor and receiver
which cell belongs to patients body before blood transplant.
10. Crossmatch (XM) test : a test used to detect the presence of antibodies in patient against
the red blood cells of the donor.