Simplified Order of Draw
I'm the first tube in the order of draw
blood culture bottles (or yellow SPS tube)
Purple (lavender), pink, and pearl top tubes contain this additive
EDTA
CBCs, ESRs, hemaglobin, and hematocrits 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
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 if spun, whole blood if not
We're third in the order of draw
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 thrombin time (TT) all use this tube
light blue
Serum tubes, heparin tubes, and gray tubes can all go to this common and comprehensive department
Chemistry
Red top, SST (tiger top or gold)
serum
We're fourth in the order of 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, pink, and pearl
plasma if spun, whole blood if not (except for pearl separator tube)
These tubes are fifth in the order of draw and grouped together...
As well as this other tube which is the sixth and last in the order of draw
EDTA tubes (lavender, pink, pearl)
gray top tube
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. They are used for comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP), 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
Yellow top ACD additive tubes can go to this department for DNA testing and HLA typing.
Blood Bank/Immunology
Gray top
serum without potassium oxalate
plasma with potassium oxalate (whole blood if not spun)