Additives
Common Test
Order of Tubes
100

What is the additive in Yellow-Top tubes used for blood cultures? 

SPS 

100

Ammonia Studies, Cardiac Electrolytes, STAT Plasma, and Arterial Blood Gases can all be drawn using which color tube? 

Green-Top tube

100

A patient comes in complaining of a random fever over the past couple of days, the physician orders ESR,CBC, and Toxicology Studies to be drawn. What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Red-top tube, Lavender-top tube 

200

What is the additive in Plain Red-Top tubes? 

N/A

200

Fasting Blood Glucose and Alcohol Levels can be drawn using which color tube? 

Grey-Top tube 

200

Your patient comes in with pinpointed pupils, complaining of back pain, the physician orders complete blood count, toxicology studies, HIV antibody, and sickle cell to be drawn. What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Red-top tube, Speckled-top tube, and Lavender-top tube 

300

What is the additive in the Green-Top tube? 

Sodium Lithium or Sodium Heparin 

300

Toxic Metals, such as Copper, Lead, and Zinc, can be drawn using which color tube? 

Royal Blue-Top tube

300

Your patients mother comes in requesting paternity testing for her son, the physician sends the request to the lab. What is the correct tube that would be used for this patient?

Yellow-top tube containing the additive of ACD 

400

What is the additive in the Royal Blue-Top tube? 

EDTA 

400

Blood cultures are drawn using which color tube? 

Yellow-Top tubes containing the additive of SPS, Anaerobic or Aerobic Bottles 

400

A patient's mother brings her child in complaining the child has been lethargic, not eating, and has had a change in personality recently, the physician orders toxic metals, complete blood count, and blood cultures to be drawn. What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Yellow-top tubes containing SPS (or anaerobic/ aerobic bottles) (depending on specific blood culture requested), Lavender-top tube, Royal Blue-top tube 

500

What is the additive in the Orange-Top tube? 

Thrombin 

500

STAT Chemistry is drawn using which color tube? 

Orange-Top tube 

500

A phlebotomist has been accidentally stuck with a needle, and comes in for bloodwork. What tube would be drawn to look for the two most common blood borne pathogens? 

Speckled-top tube

600

What is the additive in Yellow-Top tubes used for Paternity Testing? 

ACD

600

Beta Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Sickle Cell, and Complete Blood Count (CBC) can all be drawn using which color tube? 

Lavender-Top tube 

600

A patient comes in for bloodwork before a surgery, the physician has ordered for a Complete Blood Count, Cardiac Electrolytes, PT, and PTT.  What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Light Blue-top tube, Green-top tube, and Lavender-top tube 

700

What is the additive in the Lavender-Top tube? 

EDTA 

700

International Normal Ratio (INR), Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT), and Prothrombin Time (PT) can all be drawn using which color tube? 

Light Blue-Top tube 

700

A patient comes in complaining of chest pain and abdominal pain, the physician has ordered for a complete blood count, cardiac electrolytes, basic metabolic panel, kidney function tests and liver function tests. What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Speckled-top tube, Green-top tube, Lavender-top tube 

800
What is the additive in the Grey-Top tubes? 
Potassium Oxalate or Sodium Fluoride 
800

Toxicology Studies, Syphilis testing (VDRL/ RPR), ABO Screen, Type and Crossmatch testing can all be drawn using which color tube? 

Plain Red-Top tubes 

800

A patient comes in complaining of constant urination, and extreme thirst over the past month, the physician has order for a fasting blood glucose and complete blood count to be drawn. What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Lavender-top tube, Grey-top tube 

900

What is the additive in the Speckled-Top tube? 

Thixotropic Gel 

900

Paternity testing can be drawn using which color tube? 

Yellow-Top tube containing the additive of ACD

900

A physician has ordered STAT Chemistry, Ammonia Studies, PTT, and Kidney Function Test for a patient located in the ICU. What are the correct tubes, in the correct order to be drawn?

Light Blue-Top Tube, Speckled-top tube, Green-top tube, and Orange-top tube 

1000

What is the additive in the Light Blue-Top tube? 

Sodium Citrate 

1000

Kidney Function Test, Liver Function Test, Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP), Chemistry Panel, hCG levels, HIV Antibody, HBV Antibody, and SMA (6) (10) (12) or (20) can all be drawn using which color tube?

Speckled-Top tube 

1000

What it the correct order of all the colors on the order of the draw? 

Blood Cultures (Yellow, Anaerobic, Aerobic Bottles) 

Light Blue 

Red 

Speckled 

Green 

Lavender 

Orange 

Gray 

Royal Blue 

Yellow