Phlebotomy Tubes, Additives, and Common Laboratory Tests

These flashcards review tube colors, additives, laboratory departments, and common tests outlined in the lecture notes on phlebotomy and specimen collection.

Blood Culture Tube

First tube in the order of draw; contains SPS; sent to Microbiology to rule out septicemia.

Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)

Anticoagulant that enhances microorganism growth; additive in blood culture bottles.

Light Blue Tube

Coagulation tube with sodium citrate; used for PT/INR, PTT, fibrinogen assay, and D-dimer.

Sodium Citrate

Anticoagulant that prevents clotting by binding calcium; found in light blue tubes.

Red Plastic Tube

Serum tube with silica clot activator; common for TDM and digoxin levels.

Red Glass Tube

Plain glass serum tube with no additive; glass surface starts clotting cascade.

Gold/Tiger Top (SST)

Serum separator tube with thixotropic gel; used for CMP, BMP, PSA, TSH, HCG, glucose, lipids, CRP, etc.

Thixotropic Separator Gel

Gel forming a physical barrier between serum and clot after centrifugation in SST tubes.

Green Tube

Contains lithium or sodium heparin; tests include ammonia (on ice), electrolytes, bilirubin, and ABG.

Heparin (Lithium or Sodium)

Anticoagulant that inhibits conversion of prothrombin to thrombin; additive in green tubes.

Lavender Tube

EDTA tube used in Hematology for CBC, ESR, H&H, and platelet counts.

EDTA

Anticoagulant that prevents clotting by binding calcium; additive in lavender tubes.

Grey Tube

Contains sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate; preserves glucose; used for glucose tests and BAC.

Sodium Fluoride

Glycolysis inhibitor that preserves glucose; present in grey tubes.

Potassium Oxalate

Anticoagulant that binds calcium; paired with sodium fluoride in grey tubes.

Microbiology Department

Lab section that processes blood cultures to detect septicemia.

Coagulation Department

Analyzes hemostasis studies such as PT/INR, PTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer.

Chemistry Department

Performs metabolic, hormone, and drug analyses (e.g., CMP, BMP, lipid profile, TSH).

Hematology Department

Handles cell counts and morphology tests such as CBC, ESR, and H&H.

PT/INR

Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio evaluating the extrinsic clotting pathway.

PTT

Partial Thromboplastin Time assessing the intrinsic clotting pathway.

Fibrinogen Assay

Measures fibrinogen levels to evaluate clot formation.

D-Dimer

Detects fibrin degradation products to rule out thrombotic events.

TDM (Therapeutic Drug Monitoring)

Measurement of drug levels, such as digoxin, to ensure proper dosing.

Digoxin

Cardiac glycoside drug often monitored in red or SST tubes during TDM.

CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel)

Evaluates electrolytes, kidney, and liver function.

BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)

Focuses on electrolytes and kidney function assessment.

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)

Blood test for prostate disorders and cancer screening.

TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone)

Hormone test assessing thyroid function.

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

Hormone test commonly used to confirm pregnancy.

ABG (Arterial Blood Gas)

Measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels; collected in green heparinized tubes.

CBC (Complete Blood Count)

Counts RBCs, WBCs, and platelets; performed on lavender EDTA tubes.

Sed Rate (ESR)

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate measuring inflammation.

H&H

Hemoglobin and Hematocrit values used to evaluate anemia.

BAC (Blood Alcohol Count)

Measurement of ethanol concentration; collected in grey sodium fluoride tubes.