What do the different color caps on blood vials mean?
Table of Contents
- 1 What do the different color caps on blood vials mean?
- 2 Why are blood collection tube tops color-coded?
- 3 What is the purple blood test for?
- 4 What is a yellow top blood tube for?
- 5 What is the color of the tube for CBC and the anticoagulant used?
- 6 What tubes do you use for blood draws?
- 7 What is the yellow stuff in blood test tubes?
- 8 What are green top blood tubes used for?
- 9 What do the colored tubes on blood collection tubes mean?
- 10 What does the color on A Vacutainer tube mean?
- 11 What are blue top tubes used for in a blood test?
What do the different color caps on blood vials mean?
The tests each bottle is used for are the same: the purple one is for cell count, the yellow one is for electrolytes, albumin and LDH, the grey one is for glucose, and blood culture bottles can be used for fluid cultures.
Why are blood collection tube tops color-coded?
Vacutainer tubes have a color-coded plastic cap. The color code of the caps indicates the blood additives the tube contains. Additives are chemical substances that preserve the blood for processing in the laboratory. The additives include anticoagulants like EDTA, Sodium citrate and Heparin.
What is the color tubes for blood work?
Blood Collection Tubes
| Tube cap color | Additive |
|---|---|
| Red or gold (mottled or “tiger” top used with some tubes) | Serum tube with or without clot activator or gel |
| Green | Sodium or lithium heparin with or without gel |
| Lavender or pink | Potassium EDTA |
| Gray | Sodium fluoride, and sodium or potassium oxalate |
What is the purple blood test for?
The purple top tube provides blood for infectious disease tests and ascertaining important data such as ABO/Rh (blood type), as well as whether the blood is positive or negative for cytomegalovirus (CMV), HIV, hepatitis, and West Nile virus, to name a few.
What is a yellow top blood tube for?
Yellow-top tube (ACD) This tube contains ACD, which is used for the collection of whole blood for special tests. NOTE: After the tube has been filled with blood, immediately invert the tube 8-10 times to mix and ensure adequate anticoagulation of the specimen.
What color is an EDTA tube?
PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES
| STOPPER COLOR | CONTENTS | VOL. |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Top (Serum Separator, “SST”) | Contains separating gel and clot activator | 6.0 mL |
| Light Blue – Yellow Label on Tube | Thrombin | 2.0 mL |
| Green | Sodium heparin(100 USP Units) | 5.0 mL |
| Tan | K2 EDTA | 5.0 mL |
What is the color of the tube for CBC and the anticoagulant used?
Lavender Top Tube
Lavender Top Tube: This tube is used to for Hematology (CBC, e.g.) and certain Chemistry and Blood Bank testing. The tube contains EDTA as an anticoagulant. Samples collected in lavender tubes may not be used for coagulation tests. Light Blue Top Tube: This tube is used for coagulation testing.
What tubes do you use for blood draws?
Note: When multiple specimens are drawn from a single venipuncture, the following order is recommended: (1) sterile blood culture tubes, (2) nonadditive clotting tubes (red), (3) coagulation tubes and tubes containing citrate (blue), (4) gel-barrier tubes and tubes with additives (red), (5) tubes containing heparin ( …
What is the green blood tube used for?
Light green-top tube (lithium heparin) This tube contains lithium heparin and gel separator used for the collection of heparinized plasma for routine chemistry tests. NOTE: After the tube has been filled with blood, immediately invert the tube 8-10 times to mix and ensure adequate anticoagulation of the specimen.
What is the yellow stuff in blood test tubes?
Types of tubes
| Tube cap color or type | Additive |
|---|---|
| Tan | EDTA (chelator / anticoagulant) |
| Gray | Sodium fluoride (glycolysis inhibitor) Potassium oxalate (anticoagulant) |
| Yellow | Acid-citrate-dextrose A (anticoagulant) |
| Pearl (“white”) | Separating gel and (K2)EDTA |
What are green top blood tubes used for?
Lithium Heparin (Green-Top Tube)*: This tube is used for the collection of heparinized plasma or whole blood for special tests. *Note: After the tube has been filled with blood, immediately invert the tube gently several times to prevent coagulation.
What color are heparin tubes?
Green
Green-top tube: Contains sodium heparin or lithium heparin. Use: Heparinized whole blood or plasma.
What do the colored tubes on blood collection tubes mean?
The cap colors on blood collection tubes tell technicians the tube additives, additive functions and the laboratory tests required. Some collection tubes contain clot activators, which produce serum samples when spun in centrifuges.
What does the color on A Vacutainer tube mean?
Vacutainer tubes are covered with a Color-coded plastic cap that indicates which additives the tube contains. These color indicators help the phlebotomist to easily select the tubes in which the blood should be drawn as per the tests that have to be performed.
What does a red stopper mean on a blood collection tube?
A red or gold blood collection tube stopper indicates the presence of a clot activator, and centrifugation produces serum. The lab tests include chemistry, serology and immunology. A grey stopper indicates lab tests for glucose, blood alcohol and lactic acid.
What are blue top tubes used for in a blood test?
Blue top tubes are used primarily in coagulation studies, like monitoring heparin or warfarin therapy, or looking for clotting disorders before a patient goes to surgery. Sodium citrate, like EDTA, also prevents clotting by tying up calcium ions, but it’s better than EDTA in preserving the rest of the blood’s clotting factors.