Phlebotomy Tube Colors and Their Uses

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Questions and Answers

What tube is used for CBC?

Gold

Green

Lavender (correct)

Red

What tube is used for fasting blood sugar (FBS)?

Light Blue

Red

Gray (correct)

Lavender

What tube is used for platelet count?

Lavender (correct)

Gold

Green

Yellow

Which tube is used for Total Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, and Organ panel?

Gold Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for sickle cell advancement screening?

Lavender Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for serologic tests?

Red Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for potassium (K+)?

Tiger Top/Gold Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for electrolytes in serum?

Gold/SST Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for hematology tests?

Lavender Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for blood cultures?

Yellow Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for copper testing?

Royal Blue Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for lipid panel total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, lipase?

Tiger Top/Gold Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for sodium (Na+)?

Tiger Top/Gold Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for pro time and PT/INR tests?

Light Blue Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for PTT?

Light Blue Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for alcohol levels?

Gray Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for arterial blood gas determination?

Green Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for blood serum chemistry?

Tiger Top/Gold Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for RBC testing?

Lavender Signup and view all the answers

What tube is used for coagulation tests?

Light Blue Signup and view all the answers

______ is contained in the lavender top tubes.

EDTA Signup and view all the answers

Sodium citrate is contained in the light blue top tubes.

sodium citrate Signup and view all the answers

You need ______ inversions on the light blue tube.

3-4 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Tube Colors and Their Uses in Phlebotomy

Lavender Tube: Used for CBC (Complete Blood Count), platelet count, sickle cell screening, HBA1C, whole blood samples, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and WBC (White Blood Cell) tests. Contains EDTA as an anticoagulant.
Gray Tube: Utilized for fasting blood sugar (FBS), alcohol levels, glucose tolerance, and contains potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride as additives.
Gold Tube: Employed for total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, organ panels, non-fasting blood glucose (NFBG), serum electrolytes, renal function tests, and blood serum chemistry. Also known as SST (Serum Separator Tube).
Red Tube: Typically used for serologic tests, medication levels, and has no additive.
Tiger Top Tube: Similar to the gold tube, it is also used for potassium, lipid panels, chloride, sodium, renal function tests, and blood serum chemistry.
Light Blue Tube: Required for prothrombin time (PT), PT/INR tests, and PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time). Contains sodium citrate as an anticoagulant and requires 3-4 inversions after collection.
Royal Blue Tube: Designed for trace metal testing, such as copper and toxicology tests.
Green Tube: Utilized for STAT electrolytes, arterial blood gas determination, and contains heparin as an anticoagulant.
Yellow Tube: Used for blood cultures and microbiologic tests, with sterile additives indicated.
Key Regulations: The "Order of Draw" is crucial in phlebotomy to prevent contamination—starting from yellow (sterile) to lavender, and ending with gray.
SPS (Sodium Polyethanol Sulfonate): Present in the yellow sterile tube for blood culture specimens to prevent bacterial cell lysis.

Sample Preparation

Blood samples collected in specific tubes require careful handling and proper inversion to ensure mixing, especially in anticoagulated tubes like light blue, which should be inverted 3-4 times.

This cheat sheet summarizes critical aspects of tube color coding in phlebotomy, aiding in the understanding and application of proper blood collection techniques.

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Description

This quiz explores the various tube colors used in phlebotomy and their specific applications. Test your knowledge on which tubes are suitable for different blood tests, such as the lavender, gray, gold, red, tiger top, and light blue tubes. Understand the additives and procedures involved in blood sample collection for accurate results.