Phlebotomy Collection Tubes and Additives

Flashcards covering collection tube colors, additives, modes of action, and clinical uses for phlebotomy.

What is the volume of the Red Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Red Top tube?

No additive.

What is the mode of action of the Red Top tube?

Blood clots, and the serum is separated by centrifuge

Uses for the Red Top tube include?

Chemistries, Immunology, Serology, Blood Bank (Crossmatch).

What is the volume of the Gold Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Gold Top tube?

None

What is the mode of action of the Gold Top tube?

Serum separator tube (SST) contains a gel at the bottom to separate blood from serum on centrifugation

Uses for the Gold Top tube include?

Chemistry, Immunology, and Serology

What is the volume of the Light Green Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Light Green Top tube?

Plasma Separating Tube (PST) with Lithium heparin

What is the mode of action of the Light Green Top tube's additive?

Anticoagulants with lithium heparin; Plasma is separated with PST gel at the bottom of the tube

Uses for the Light Green Top tube include?

Chemistries

What is the volume of the Dark Blue Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Dark Blue Top tube?

EDTA-

What is the mode of action of the Dark Blue Top tube?

Tube is designed to contain no contaminating metals

Uses for the Dark Blue Top tube include?

Trace element testing (zinc, copper, lead, mercury) and toxicology.

What is the volume of the Light Gray Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Light Gray Top tube?

Sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate.

What is the mode of action of the Light Gray Top tube's additive?

Antiglycolytic agent to preserve glucose up to 5 days

Uses for the Light Gray Top tube include?

Glucose, requires full draw (may cause hemolysis if short draw)

What is the volume of the Yellow Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Yellow Top tube?

ACD (acid-citrate-dextrose).

What is the mode of action of the Yellow Top tube's additive?

Complement inactivation

Uses for the Yellow Top tube include?

DNA studies, paternity testing, HLA tissue typing.

What is the volume of the Purple Top tube?

5 mL

What is the additive in the Purple Top tube?

EDTA.

What is the mode of action of the Purple Top tube's additive?

Forms calcium salts to remove calcium

Uses for the Purple Top tube include?

Hematology (CBC) and Blood Bank (Crossmatch); require full draw - invert 8 times to prevent clotting and platelet clumping

What is the volume of the Light Blue Top tube?

5 mL

What is the additive in the Light Blue Top tube?

Sodium citrate.

What is the mode of action of the Light Blue Top tube's additive?

Forms calcium salts to remove calcium

Uses for the Light Blue Top tube include?

Coagulation tests such as PT and aPTT(protime and prothrombin time); full draw required

What is the volume of the Green Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Green Top tube?

Sodium heparin or lithium heparin.

What is the mode of action of the Green Top tube's additive?

Inactivates thrombin and thomboplastin

Uses for the Green Top tube include?

For lithium level, use sodium heparin. For ammonia level, use sodium or lithium heparin

What is the volume of the Light Brown Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Light Brown Top tube?

Sodium heparin or EDTA (read label)

What is the mode of action of the Light Brown Top tube?

Contains virtually no lead

Uses for the Light Brown Top tube include?

Serum lead determination

What is the volume of the Pink Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Pink Top tube?

Potassium EDTA.

What is the mode of action of the Pink Top tube's additive?

Forms calcium salts

Uses for the Pink Top tube include?

Immunohematology

What is the volume of the White Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the White Top tube?

Potassium EDTA.

What is the mode of action of the White Top tube's additive?

Forms calcium salts

Uses for the White Top tube include?

Molecular/PCR and bDNA testing.

What is the volume of the Yellow-Black Top tube?

10 mL.

What is the additive in the Yellow-Black Top tube?

Broth mixture.

What is the mode of action of the Yellow-Black Top tube's additive?

Preserves viability of microorganisms

Uses for the Yellow-Black Top tube include?

Microbiology- aerobes, anaerobes, fungi

What is the volume of the Black Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Black Top tube?

Sodium citrate (buffered)

What is the mode of action of the Black Top tube?

Forms calcium salts to remove calcium

Uses for the Black Top tube include?

Westergren Sedimentation Rate; requires full draw

What is the volume of the Orange Top tube?

7 mL

What is the additive in the Orange Top tube?

Thrombin.

What is the mode of action of the Orange Top tube's additive?

Quickly clots blood

Uses for the Orange Top tube include?

STAT serum chemistries