Phleb Tube Colors

Light Blue Additive

Light Blue Additive

Sodium Citrate

Light Blue Test and Blood Part

Coagulation studies; plasma

Yellow Additive

Sodium polyanetholesulfonate (SPS) or Acid citrate dextrose (ACD)

Yellow Test and Blood Part

SPS- Blood cultures; Whole blood

ACD- Genetic and tissue tests; Whole blood

Red/Gold Additive

Clot activator

Red/Gold Test and Blood Part

Chemistry and serology tests; Serum

Green Additives

Sodium/lithium/ammonium heparin

Green Test and Blood Part

Chemistry Test; plasma

Purple/lavender additive

K2EDTA

Purple/lavender Test and Blood Part

Hematology; Whole blood

Pink Additive

K3EDTA

Pink Test and Blood Part

Blood bank testing; plasma and RBCs

Gray Additives

Potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride, Na2EDTA and sodium fluoride, and sodium fluoride

Gray Blood Parts

Potassium oxalate- plasma

Na2EDTA- plasma

Just sodium fluoride- serum

Gray Tests

Glucose, blood alcohol, lactic acid

Royal Blue Additive

Label Colors:

Purple- EDTA

Green- heparin

Red- none

Royal blue blood part

Label Colors:

Purple- plasma

Green- plasma

Red- serum

Royal blue tests

Toxicology

Black Additive

Sodium Citrate (buffered)

Black test and blood part

Westergren Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR); Whole blood