Order of Draw – Blood Collection Tubes

Vocabulary flashcards covering tube color, additive, purpose, and key handling notes for the phlebotomy order of draw.

Yellow Stopper (SPS tube)

Contains sodium polyanethol sulfonate; used for microbiology blood cultures & C&S; must be drawn with sterile technique and inverted 8×.

Light Blue Stopper

Contains 3.2 % sodium citrate; for coagulation studies (PT, APTT); binds calcium, must be filled completely, tested within 2 h, invert 3×.

Red Stopper

No additive; yields serum for chemistry, serology, blood bank (e.g., ABO, β-hCG, HIV, RPR); no inversion required.

Red/Gray (Tiger) or Gold Stopper – SST

Gel separator + clot activator (silica); produces serum for panels such as CMP, BMP, lipid, HIV; cannot be used for blood bank; invert 5×.

Green Stopper

Contains sodium, lithium, or ammonium heparin; anticoagulant for STAT plasma chemistries, blood gases, ammonia; invert 8×.

Light Green Stopper – PST

Lithium heparin plus gel separator; produces plasma quickly for chemistry; NOT interchangeable with other green tubes; invert 8×.

Lavender Stopper

Contains EDTA; binds calcium to preserve cellular morphology; used for CBC, ESR, HbA1c; invert 8×.

Gray Stopper

Potassium oxalate & sodium fluoride; oxalate binds calcium, fluoride inhibits glycolysis; for GTT, blood alcohol, lactic acid; must be filled completely and inverted 8×.

Yellow Stopper (ACD tube)

Contains acid-citrate-dextrose solution A or B; preserves RBCs for HLA typing, DNA, paternity testing; invert 8×; not interchangeable with SPS yellow tubes.

Royal Blue Stopper

Trace-element tube that may contain none, EDTA, or heparin; used in toxicology, trace metals, nutritional analysis; inversion depends on additive (0×/8×).

Tan Stopper

Contains lithium heparin; certified lead-free tube for lead analysis; invert 8×.

Orange Stopper

Contains thrombin; yields clot in ~5 min for STAT serum tests; invert 8×.

Black Stopper

Contains sodium citrate (special ratio); used exclusively for Westergren ESR sedimentation rate; invert 3–4×.