Brief About the types of Phlebotomy Tubes
Yellow Top Tube
Yellow top
tube contains sodium polyanethol sulfonate and is used for blood culture
specimens or acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD solution A or ACD Solution B). The same
tubes are used for HLA phenotyping and for conducting parental tests.
Light Blue Top Tube
Tubes with
light blue stoppers/shields contain two additives: sodium citrate (3.2% or
3.8%) and CTAD (Citrate, theophylline, adenosine, dipyridamole). As an
anticoagulant, citrate binds the calcium in blood that is needed for clotting.
Since the additive still results in a whole blood sample — plasma and red blood
cells, the coagulation tubes also contain buffered tri-sodium citrate solution.
The amount of citrate concentration depends on a laboratory’s policies.
According to the "Coherent Market Insights" Global
Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis of Phlebotomy
Tubes Market.
Red Top Tube
Tubes with
red-colored stoppers are used for serology and immunohematology. Glass tubes
don’t contain additives, but those made of plastic have clot activators.
Plastic tubes need to be inverted to mix the blood with the coagulant. It
usually takes 30 minutes for clotting to occur. Serology is done to check
infectious mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis, syphilis, rubella titer, strep
testing, pregnancy test, cold agglutinins, haptoglobin and C-reactive protein.
Green Top Tube
Phlebotomy
tubes with green top contain sodium herapin, lithium herapin and ammonium
herapin, all of which are coated in the inside of the tube. The herapin
anticoagulant activates antithrombins that block the coagulation cascade and
produce a plasma sample or whole blood. The same tubes are used for clinical
chemistry and STAT chemistry tests.
Purple or Lavender Top
Tubes with
purple or lavender-colored stoppers contain EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid) additive that binds calcium ions, effectively blocking coagulation
cascade. Clinical laboratories use these to test for whole blood.
Gray Top Tube
Gray-colored
stoppers indicate that the tubes can contain potassium oxalate and sodium
fluoride, sodium fluoride, and sodium fluoride/Na2 EDTA. These are often used
for laboratory procedures where glycolytic inhibition of specimen is needed.
Although red top tube can be used for a similar procedure, gray top tubes are
preferred when there is a delay in having the glucose level tested. For
adequate mixing of blood and additive, the tube must be inverted 4 to 5 times
after specimen is collected.
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