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Lavender Top
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Contains either K3EDTA (liquid) or K2EDTA (spray-coating).
Prevents coagulation by binding to Calcium. Invert tube 8 times. |
What is the lavender tube commonly used for?
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Hematology procedures that require whole blood, such as Complete Blood Count (CBC). Lavender tubes are also used for immunohematology testing and blood donor screening.
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What can the lavender tube not be used for?
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Coagulation studies
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Pink Top
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Contain spray-coated K2
EDTA.
Used specifically for blood bank in some facilities. Designed with special labels for patient information. Invert 8 times. |
White Top
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Known as PPTs (Plasma Preparation Tubes) because they contain
K2 EDTA and a separation gel.
Used primarily for molecular diagnostics. Can also be used for Myocardial Infarction (MI) panels and ammonia levels. Invert 8 times. Can also be purple with a yellow top. |
Why are white tubes different from PSTs?
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Plasma Separator Tubes (PSTs) contain heparin as an anticoagulant.
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Black Top
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Contain buffered sodium citrate.
Used for Westergren sedimentation rates. Differ from light blue tops because they provide a blood to anticoagulation ratio of 4 to 1. |
Green Top
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Contains Heparin (anticoagulant) combined with lithium, sodium, or ammonium ion.
Primarily used for chemistry tests performed on whole blood or plasma. -Particularly stat tests or tests requiring fast TAT (turn around time) Invert 8 times Not used for hematology. |
How does heparin prevent clotting?
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By inhibiting thrombin in the coagulation cascade.
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Light Green Top
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*Can also be a green/black stopper.
*Contains lithium heparin and a separation gel. -Called Plasma Separator Tubes (PSTs) *Used for plasma determinations in chemistry *Used for potassium determinations. |
Which tube is used for potassium determinations?
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Light Green tube
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Why are light green tubes used for potassium determinations?
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They are well-suited for potassium determinations because Heparin prevents the release of potassium by platelets during clotting AND
because the gel prevents contamination by red blood cell potassium. Invert 8 times. *Also green w/ yellow top |
PST tubes, SST tubes, and gel barrier tubes all contain:
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A gel barrier
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Tan Top
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Contains K2EDTA
Invert 8 Times Used for lead determinations |
Yellow Top (ACD)
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Contains ACD = acid citrate dextrose which is a red blood cell preservative
Used for *Cellular studies in blood bank *HLA Phenotyping *DNA and paternity testing-Acid citrate prevents clotting by binding to calcium-dextrose preserves the red blood cells |