Different color tubes from BD Vacutainer

[usmle_studying]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I saw several hospital using BD Vacutainer for venous blood collection, but still not sure about which color is for which purpose, such as blood chemistry, CBC, PT/PTT, blood typing, et al. Could any one help me out? Thanks!

 

[CanIMakeIt]

From Wikipedia:

Containers containing coagulants

Gold - A serum-separating tube (SST). These contain particles that cause blood to clot quickly, as well as a gel to separate blood cells from serum. (Because the blood has clotted before it has been centrifuged, the liquid part is called serum not plasma.)

Orange - These tubes contain thrombin which makes the blood clot extremely rapidly. This allows the serum to be analysed in a shorter time.

Containers containing anticoagulants

Green - Contains the lithium salt of heparin, an anticoagulant. Also may contain ammonium or sodium salts of heparin.

Purple or lavender - contains EDTA (the potassium salt, or K2EDTA). This is a strong anticoagulant and these tubes are usually used for full blood counts and blood films. Can also be used for blood banks.

Grey - These tubes contain fluoride and oxalate. Fluoride prevents enzymes in the blood from working, so a substrate such as glucose will not be gradually used up during storage. Oxalate is an anticoagulant.

Light blue - Contain a measured amount of citrate. Citrate is a reversible anticoagulant, and these tubes are used for coagulation assays. Because the liquid citrate dilutes the blood, it is important the tube is full so the dilution is properly accounted for.

Dark Blue - Contains the sodium salt of heparin, an anticoagulant. Also can contain EDTA as an additive or have no additive. These tubes are used for trace metal analysis.

Pink - Similar to purple tubes (both contain EDTA) these are used for ABO grouping and cross-matching.

Others

Red - Contains no additives. Tests for antibodies and drugs often require these.

Light yellow - Used in HLA phenotyping. Also contains SPS, used for blood cultures.

Speckled top - no anticoagulant. Also called a "tiger top" tube. Contains clot activator

 

[Igor]

Blue top for INR, PT PTT

Purple = CBC (also sed rate)

Most chemistry go whatever your hosiptal uses - I trained on red top tubes but a green top or tiger top will usually be OK.

Odd things (cryglobulins, lactate, whatever) need their own so check 1st

 

[Adcadet]

So, do you all have to actually draw your own blood where you're at. From the interview trail I'm getting the impression that at many places, in particular on the East Coast, students and residents frequently need to do their own blood draws. I haven't had to draw blood or start an iv once in med school other than in our lab medicine lab and EM lab where we practiced. I'm practiced iv starts on my anesthesiology rotation, but nobody made me. I've also only had to transport a patient once, and that was just 100 yards at 3 am to save time.