Phlebotomy Tube Guide and Order of Draw

Flashcards covering various blood collection tubes, their additives, sample types, associated laboratory departments, and specific diagnostic tests based on lecture notes.

Blood Culture Bottles

Bottles used to detect infections in the bloodstream such as Bacteremia / Septicemia. They contain Nutrient Broth and are drawn before any colored tube, with the Aerobic bottle drawn $1^{st}$ and the Anaerobic bottle drawn $2^{nd}$.

Blue Tube

A tube containing the anticoagulant Sodium Citrate, used for Coagulation department tests including PT/INR, PTT, Platelets, APPT, Fibrinogen, Anti-Xa, D-Dimer, and TEG.

Red Tube

A tube that can be glass (no additive) or plastic (clot activator) used to collect Serum. It is utilized in Chemistry, Blood Bank, Serology, and Immunology for tests like Drug Levels, Hormones, and Vitamin Levels.

SST (Serum Separator Tube)

Also known as Gold / Tiger Top, it contains a clot activator and gel separator. It is used in Chemistry, Serology, and Immunology for panels such as BMP, CMP, Liver Panel, Lipid Panel, TSH, and Hormone Levels.

Green (PST) Tube

A tube containing Sodium Heparin or Lithium Heparin used for Plasma or Whole Blood. It is used in Chemistry for ABG, Ammonia, Troponin, Electrolytes, Ionized Calcium, and STAT Tests.

Lavender / Purple Tube

A tube containing EDTA (Anticoagulant) that binds calcium to stop clotting. It is used in Hematology for tests like CBC, Hemoglobin $A1c$, H&H, ESR, and Sickle Cell Screen.

Pink Tube

A tube containing EDTA used specifically for Blood Bank departments for services like Blood Typing, Crossmatching, and Antibody Screening.

Gray Tube

A tube containing Sodium Fluoride and Potassium Oxalate used for Chemistry tests where glucose levels must remain stable, including FBS, GTT, Lactic Acid, and BAC.

Royal Blue Tube

A tube containing either None or EDTA used for Chemistry tests investigating tiny amounts of substances like Heavy Metals, Mineral Levels, and Micronutrients.

Yellow Tube

A tube containing SPS or ACD used for tests in Microbiology, Blood Bank, or Molecular departments, including ABO Group, Rh Type, DNA Testing, and HLA Typing.

Orange Tube

A tube containing a Clot activator (Thrombin) used for STAT serum testing and serum testing emergencies in Immunology, Toxicology, and Chemistry departments.

Bacteremia / Septicemia

Bloodstream infections detected using Blood Culture Bottles containing Nutrient Broth.

Sodium Citrate

An anticoagulant additive that stops blood from clotting, found in Blue tubes and used for plasma samples in the Coagulation department.

EDTA

An anticoagulant that binds calcium to stop clotting; it is found in Lavender, Pink, and some Royal Blue tubes for Whole Blood or Plasma samples.

Sodium Fluoride and Potassium Oxalate

Additives found in Gray tubes used to keep glucose levels stable until analyzed for tests like FBS and GTT.

SPS or ACD

Additives found in Yellow tubes used for DNA, paternity, microbiology, or immunology tests.

Thrombin

A clot activator found in Orange tubes used for rapid serum testing.