Phlebotomy Notes

Blood Cultures

• Blood cultures are sent to Microbiology.
• This enhances microorganism detection.

Blue Tube

• The blue tube prevents blood from clotting by binding calcium.
• Light blue tubes are used for Coagulation tests.

Red Tube

• The red tube contains no gel but has silica.
• It contains a clot activator.

Vanco

• Vanco is for Plasma.
• Used for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Plasma

• Plasma has anticoagulants.
• Anticoagulants prevent blood clots.

Serum

• Serum is the liquid that remains after the blood has clotted.

Plasma Definition

• Plasma is the liquid that remains when clotting is prevented with the addition of an anticoagulant.

Red Top Tube

• Red top tubes are used for drug monitoring.

Tube Color Similarity

• Gold, red, and tiger top tubes are mostly the same.

Warfarin

• Warfarin is a blood thinner.
• Blood thinners affect the PT/INR test.