Common Test Tube Colors Quiz

Blood Collection Tubes and Their Uses

• Yellow Sterilized Tube: Utilized for Blood Culture tests; important for detecting bacteria or fungi in the blood.
• Light Blue Tube: Designed for PT (Prothrombin Time), PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time), and INR (International Normalized Ratio) tests, as well as Fibrinogen tests; essential for assessing coagulation and bleeding disorders.
• Red Tube: Commonly used for Serum Chemistry, RH typing, Blood Type testing, and HIV, VDRL, RPR tests; allows for serum collection without additives.
• Speckle Top/Gold Tube: Ideal for Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) and Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP); contains a gel that aids in separating serum from cells after centrifugation.
• Green Tube: Employed for Plasma Chemistry tests, STAT (immediate) tests, and Ammonia levels; contains heparin as an anticoagulant.
• Lavender Tube: Required for Complete Blood Count (CBC) tests; includes EDTA as an anticoagulant to maintain blood cell integrity.
• Gray Tube: Utilized for testing Blood Glucose and Blood Alcohol Levels (BAL); contains sodium fluoride as a preservative to inhibit glycolysis.
• Royal Blue Tube with EDTA: Used specifically for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) tests; ensures accurate measurement by preventing clotting.
• Royal Blue Tube without Additive: Suitable for Lead Concentration tests; provides accurate measurement of lead levels in the blood without interference.
• Royal Blue Tube with Sodium Heparin: Used for testing trace elements; maintains sample integrity without influencing the results.