Simplified Order of Draw
I'm the first tube in the order of draw
blood culture bottles (or yellow SPS tube)
Purple (lavender) and Pink top tubes contain this additive
EDTA
CBCs, HgA1C, ESRs, hemoglobin, and hematocrits (H&H) are all done with this color tube
Lavender
Tests utilizing light blue top tubes are used for this department
Coagulation
Green top tubes
Plasma
I'm the second tube in the order of draw
light blue
Yellow top tubes contain this additive (name both)
sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS)
acid citrate dextrose (ACD)
This tube is used to test for both alcohol and glucose determinations.
Gray top tube
Lavender top tubes are related to tests for this department.
Pink top tubes can be used for this department.
Hematology
Blood banking
light blue top tubes
Plasma
We're the serum tubes drawn after a light blue top. (name all 2)
serum tubes (red and tiger top/gold)
The green top tube contains this additive
sodium or lithium heparin (with or without gel separators)
Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and D Dimer are drawn on this tube
light blue
Serum tubes and gray tubes can all go to this common and comprehensive department
Chemistry
Red top, SST (tiger top or gold)
serum
We're drawn immediately before the EDTA tubes in the order of the draw
green heparin tubes
Light blue top tubes contain this additive
sodium citrate
This tube is used for STAT chemistry tests because it can be spun right away. No need to wait for clotting!
Green top heparin tube
Yellow SPS tubes go to this department for blood cultures.
Microbiology
Lavender and Pink
Plasma
(whole blood if not spun. Lavender tubes are the MOST frequently NOT spun tubes)
These tubes are second to last in the order of draw. (give examples of tubes with this additive)
EDTA tubes (lavender, pink)
These are the additives in a gray top tube...
And these are the additives in a red top...
And a SST/tiger top/gold top...
sodium fluoride (glycolytic inhibitor) & potassium oxalate (anticoagulant)
clot activator
clot activator and gel separator
This group of tubes really do a lot and are used the most often (for routine draws, not STAT). They are used for comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP), Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) thyroid, prostate specific antigens (PSA), lipids, cardiovascular and hepatic panels.
Serum tubes which include red top tubes and serum separator tubes (SSTS) in tiger top or gold top
Tubes drawn on STAT heparin tubes are usually delivered to this department?
Chemistry
Gray top
plasma with potassium oxalate (whole blood if not spun)