Order of Draw

First tube in venipuncture

Yellow-top (SPS) / Blood cultures.

Correct venipuncture order of draw

Yellow → Light Blue → Red → Green → Lavender → Gray.

Reason for following order of draw

To prevent additive carryover and inaccurate results.

Tube that must be filled completely

Light blue.

Tube drawn immediately after light blue

Red.

Last tube in venipuncture

Gray.

Blood cultures drawn before all other tubes

To avoid contamination.

Additive in light blue tube

Sodium citrate.

Additive in lavender tubes

EDTA.

Additive in green tubes

Heparin.

Additive in gray tube

Sodium fluoride + potassium oxalate.

Common use of light blue tubes

Coagulation studies.

Common use of lavender tubes

Hematology (CBC).

Common use of green tubes

Plasma chemistry tests.

Common use of gray tubes

Glucose & alcohol testing.

Common use of red tubes

Serum chemistry & immunology.

Common use of yellow-top SPS tubes

Blood cultures.

Inversion requirement for light blue tubes

3–4 inversions.

Inversion requirement for lavender tubes

8 inversions.

Inversion requirement for green tubes

8 inversions.

Inversion requirement for gray tubes

8–10 inversions.

Tubes yielding serum after centrifugation

SST, Red.

Plasma tubes can be centrifuged

Immediately.

Serum tubes must clot for

30–60 minutes.

Effect of expired tubes on vacuum

They lose vacuum & additive potency.

EDTA carryover effect on calcium

Causes false decrease in calcium.

Underfilling light blue tube effect

Incorrect anticoagulant ratio.

Blood required for adult blood cultures

10–15 mL total.

Acceptable antiseptic for blood culture

Povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine.

Common use for SST tubes

Plasma chemistry.

Tubing to fill first in blood culture

Aerobic.

First tube in dermal order of draw

Lavender.

Total blood needed for one blood culture set

20–30 mL.

Why collect lavender first in dermal puncture

To prevent microclots affecting results.

Correct dermal order of draw

Lavender → Green → Gray → Gold → Red.

Last tube collected in dermal puncture

Red.

Capillary tube containing lithium heparin

Green.

Microtainer containing clot activator

Gold.

Tube for coagulation studies

Light blue.

Tube used for alcohol testing

Gray.

Tube correct for CBC

Lavender.

Tube used for serum chemistry when gel is needed

SST / Red-gray.

Antiseptic that can lead to contamination in cultures

Alcohol only.

Additive in gray tubes that prevents glycolysis

Sodium fluoride.

EDTA's effect on potassium levels

Causes false increase in potassium.

Which tube is used for blood cultures in adults

Yellow-top SPS.

Which tube needs to be filled first when using a butterfly needle

Aerobic bottle.

Clot activator found in SST tubes

Silica.

First tube for capillary blood gas

Green.

Tube used for chemistry panels

SST.

What must happen if lavender is drawn before light blue

Redraw the light blue tube.

What happens if gray tube is underfilled

Incorrect additives present.