Blood Collection Tube Properties

Derived from "Chapter Seven: Tubes, The Order of Draw, and Blood Tests"

Blood Cultures (BCx or BC)

Additive: Nutrient Broth
Specimen type: Whole Blood
Lab Departments: Microbiology
Inversion: 3 to 4 Times

Yellow-Top Tubes (SPS)

Additive: Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate
Specimen type: Whole Blood
Lab Departments: Microbiology
Inversion: 8 Times

Yellow-Top Tube (ACD)

Additive: Acid Citrate Dextrose
Specimen type: Whole Blood or Plasma
Lab Departments: Blood Bank
Inversion: 8 Times

Light Blue-Top Tubes

Additive: Sodium Citrate
Specimen type: Plasma
Lab Departments: Coagulation
Inversion: 3 to 4 Times

Royal Blue-Top Tube (Red Stripe)

Additive: None
Specimen type: Serum
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: None

Glass Red-Top Tube

Additive: None
Specimen type: Serum
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 5 Times (if used for testing)

Plastic Red-Top Tube

Additive: Clot activator
Specimen type: Serum
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 5 Times (if used for testing)

Gold-Top Tube

Additive: Silica (a clot activator) and Thixotropic Gel
Specimen type: Serum
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 5 Times

Light Green-Tube Top

Additive: Lithium Heparin (sometimes with thixotropic gel)
Specimen type: Plasma
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 8 Times

Dark Green-Top Tube

Additive: Sodium Heparin (sometimes lithium heparin with thixotropic gel)
Specimen type: Plasma
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 8 Times

Royal Blue-Top Tube (Lavender Strip)

Additive: K₂ EDTA
Specimen type: Plasma
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 8 Times

Lavender-Top Tube

Additive: K₂ EDTA
Specimen type: Whole Blood or Plasma
Lab Departments: Hematology
Inversion: 8 Times

Pink-Top Tube

Additive: K₂ EDTA
Specimen type: Whole Blood
Lab Departments: Blood Bank/Immunohematology
Inversion: 8 Times

Grey-Top Tube

Additive: Sodium Fluoride and Potassium Oxalate
Specimen type: Plasma
Lab Departments: Chemistry
Inversion: 8 Times