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| Color coding in Vacutainer System is used to indicate the additive present. |
| Written by Shahbaz Ahmed | |||
| Tuesday, 16 June 2009 07:52 | |||
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Evacuated Collection Tubes are designed to fill with a predetermined volume of blood by vacuum. Various sizes are available. Blood should never be poured from one tube to another since the tubes can have different additives or coatings. The test tubes are covered with a color-coded plastic cap. They include additives that mix with the blood when collected, and the color of the tube's plastic cap indicates which additives that tube contains.
Evacuated Collection Tubes are designed to fill with a predetermined volume of blood by vacuum. Various sizes are available. Blood should never be poured from one tube to another since the tubes can have different additives or coatings. The test tubes are covered with a color-coded plastic cap. They include additives that mix with the blood when collected, and the color of the tube's plastic cap indicates which additives that tube contains. Anticoagulants EDTA, sodium citrate, and heparin or a gel with intermediate density between blood cells and serum are present as additives in the vacutainer tubes. For some analyses like glucose determination, some tubes contain chemicals which preserve glucose in the blood. Serum separator tubes form a barrier between cells and serum and help in transportation of specimens. The blood cells sink to the bottom and are covered by a layer of the gel, and the serum is left on top when these tubes are centrifuged. For ease of transportation, the gel tubes can be tipped upside-down without the blood cells remixing with the serum. Tubes without any additives are centrifuged to obtain plasma which is the fluid portion of blood without fibrinogen and with platelets. Different colors are uniform across manufacturers for chemical additives. Gold or 'Tiger' Red/Black top: these tubes do not contain any additive; Serum Separator tubes (SST) contain clot activator and gel for serum separation on centrifugation. These are used in chemistry, immunology and serology determinations. Orange or Grey/Yellow 'Tiger' Top: a rapid clot activator, Thrombin is present which is used for STAT (urgent) serum chemistry determinations. Green: have Sodium Heparin or Lithium Heparin which inactivates thrombin and thromboplastin, used for plasma determinations. For lithium level, sodium heparin is used. Use sodium or lithium heparin for ammonia level. Light Green or Green/Gray 'Tiger': contain anticoagulant lithium heparin, Plasma Separating Tube (PST), used in blood chemistry. Plasma is separated at the bottom of the tube with PST gel. Purple or lavender - contains EDTA (the potassium salt, or K2EDTA), forms calcium salts to remove calcium. This is a strong anticoagulant and these tubes are usually used for complete blood counts (CBC) and blood films. Lavender top tubes are generally used when whole blood is needed for analysis. Can also be used for some blood bank procedures such as blood type and screen, but other blood bank procedures, such as crossmatches must be in a pink tube in most facilities. Requires full draw - invert 8 times to prevent clotting and platelet clumping Grey - These tubes contain Sodium fluoride and Potassium oxalate. Fluoride inhibits enzymes in the blood, so substrate glucose is not used up, Oxalate is an anticoagulant. Blood glucose determination, requires full draw. Light blue - Contain a measured amount of Sodium citrate. Citrate is a reversible anticoagulant, and these tubes are used for coagulation assays (Prothrombin time, Partial Thromboplastin Time). Because the liquid citrate dilutes the blood, it is important the tube is full so the dilution is properly accounted for. Dark Blue - Contains sodium heparin, an anticoagulant. Also can contain EDTA as an additive or have no additive. These tubes are used for trace metal analysis and toxicology. Pink - Similar to purple tubes (contain Potassium EDTA), forms calcium salts. These are used for blood banking and Molecular/viral load testing. Red tubes (glass): Tests for antibodies, chemistries, and drugs used these tubes as they contain no additives. Blood cells and serum is separated by centrifugation. Light yellow: Blood culture specimens use tubes which contain sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS). Acid-Citrate-Dextrose (ACD) as an additive is used for blood bank studies, HLA phenotyping, and parental testing. Tan: These tubes are certified not to contain lead, hence used for lead determinations. Tubes contain sodium heparin or potassium EDTA. Phlebotomy training courses, in addition to teaching collection techniques, correct procedures and order of draw as specified by NCCLS, also prepare the phlebotomist for emergencies and help to understand proper laboratory procedures in order to avoid contamination or infection control requirements. About the Author: Maxis Healthcare Limited run professional 1 Day Fasttrack Phlebotomy Training Courses in London, UK. Learn How to become a phlebotomist And Get Phlebotomy Training From Phlebotomy Trainers With Over 30 Years Practical Experience and a FREE 10 Day Phelebotomy Taster Course.
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