table 48.1 Common Color-Coded Stoppers and their Additives and Lab Uses

blood culture bottles hemogard color

yellow

blood culture bottles additive and its function

sodium polyanethole sulfonate SPS - prevents blood from clotting and stabilizes bacterial growth

yellow-topped tubes have specific uses- cannot be used to collect all blood culture specimens

blood culture bottle lab use

blood culture bottles- blood or body fluid cultures

yellow-topped tubes- mycobacteria, fungus, or acid-fast bacilli AFB blood cultures

light blue additive and function

sodium citrate- removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting

light blue lab use

coagulation testing

red additive and its function

none

red lab use

serum tests

chemistry studies, blood bank, immunology

red-gray marbled hemogard color

gold

red-gray marbled/gold additive and function

no anticoagulant but contains silica particles to enhance clot formation

usually contain gel for serum separation

red-gray marbled/gold lab use

serum tests

chemistry studies, immunology

green additive and function

heparin

inhibits thrombin formation to prevent clotting

green lab use

chemistry tests

green-gray marbled hemogard color

light green

green-gray marbled/light green additive and function

lithium heparin and gel

for plasma separation

green-gray marbled/light green lab uses

plasma determinations in chemistry studies

lavender additive and its function

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid EDTA

removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting

lavender lab use

hematology tests

gray additive and function

potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride

removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting

fluoride inhibits glycolysis

gray lab use

chemistry testing, esp glucose and alcohol levels