: Phlebotomy Tubes and Additives – Order of Draw and Test Applications

Phlebotomy tubes and additives

blood culture - ANS -contains SPS, yellow top
- draw first because you need to use sterile technique

clot activator - ANS -Coagulation enhancing substance, such as silica (glass)

EDTA - ANS -binds Calcium to prevent coagulation

gold and red/gray top tubes - ANS -a serum separator gel and no additives
(maybe a clot activator, SST)
-chemistry, immunology
-draw fourth after red top tube

Gray tube - ANS Glucose Tolerance Test, Fasting Blood Sugar, Lactic Acid,
Blood alcohol
- potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride

Green, green/gray top tube - ANS -Additive: sodium heparin, lithium heparin,
ammonium heparin
- chemistry
- can have a gel separator (light, PST)
-draw fifth after gold or red/gray tubes

Heparin - ANS - sodium, lithium, ammonium
- inhibits thrombin from forming

Lavender Tube (pink or pearl) - ANS -Contains EDTA. Used in Hematology &
blood bank
-tests CBC, WBC, RBC, Platelet counts, any blood counts
-draw sixth after green tubes

Light Blue Tube - ANS -Contains Sodium Citrate.
-Used in Coagulation dept.
-Tests for PT, PTT, Fibrinogen, clotting factors
-draw second after blood culture

Orange tube used for: - ANS STAT serum chemistries
- contains thrombin

Order of draw - ANS 1. Yellow
2. Light Blue