Clinical Lab Tests and Blood Collection Tubes

Medical Laboratory Panels and Diagnostic Indications

  • Cardiac Panel

    • Primary Indication: Used when a patient presents with chest pain.
    • Clinical Goal: To check for evidence of heart muscle damage.
    • Key Marker: Troponin is the essential marker used in this panel to identify cardiac injury.

  • Lipid Panel

    • Measured Components: Cholesterol and triglycerides.
    • Clinical Use: This panel is used to assess a patient's overall risk for heart disease; it is not utilized to diagnose an active heart attack.

  • Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

    • Diagnostic Scope: Used to evaluate kidney function, electrolyte levels, and glucose levels.

  • Complete Blood Count (CBC)

    • Measured Components:
      • Red Blood Cells (RBCs).
      • White Blood Cells (WBCs).
      • Hemoglobin.
      • Hematocrit.
      • Platelets.

  • Bilirubin Testing

    • Clinical Presentation: High levels of bilirubin can cause jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes.
    • Clinical Goal: Helps evaluate liver function and the breakdown of red blood cells.

  • Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

    • Definition: The CMP is a combination test consisting of the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) plus liver function tests and protein measurements.

Blood Collection Tube Color Codes and Associated Tests

  • Gold / Tiger Top (Serum Separator Tube - SST)

    • Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP).
    • Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP).
    • Lipid Panel.
    • Liver Panel.
    • Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
    • Cardiac enzymes (as well as many other general chemistry tests).

  • Lavender (EDTA)

    • Complete Blood Count (CBC).
    • Hemoglobin A1C.
    • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR).
    • Blood smear.

  • Light Blue (Sodium Citrate)

    • Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR).
    • Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT or aPTT).
    • Any coagulation or clotting tests.

  • Green (Heparin)

    • Troponin.
    • Ammonia.
    • B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP).
    • STAT chemistry tests.

  • Gray (Sodium Fluoride/Potassium Oxalate)

    • Glucose.
    • Lactate.
    • Blood alcohol (ethanol).

  • Yellow (SPS)

    • Blood cultures.

  • Pink

    • Blood bank procedures.
    • Type and Screen.
    • Crossmatch.

  • Royal Blue

    • Lead testing.
    • Heavy metals.
    • Trace elements.

Clinical Scenarios and Outcomes

  • Patient Presentation Scenario 1: A patient has been feeling very tired and looks [fragment].
  • Assessment Outcome: A score of 5/65/6 was achieved on the relevant assessment, indicating performance was better than previously anticipated.