What is Blood?

Blood is a fluid that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the cells while removing carbon dioxide and other waste materials.

Technically, blood is a transport liquid that the heart (or a comparable structure) pumps to all regions of the body before returning to the heart to restart the process.

So, what is blood collection tubes?

Blood collection tubes are sterile, vacuum-sealed containers that collect blood samples for diagnostic reasons. They are part of the Evacuated Tube System (ETS), which is intended to expedite the process of collecting blood sample.

Key Features

Vacuum Seal

The tubes contain a premeasured amount of vacuum that draws blood into the tube from the patient’s vein.

Additives

Some tubes contain additives to preserve or stabilize the blood sample before testing. The color of the top of the tube indicates the additives it contains.

Safety

Some tubes have safety-engineered stoppers.

Compatibility

The tubes use a standardized plastic mold that phlebotomists are familiar with.

Tube Cap Color

Most blood collection tubes contain an additive that either promotes or stops blood clotting (clot activator, anticoagulant). These are the types of cap color and what they do.

Light-Blue

Additive : 3.2% Sodium Citrate

Function : Prevents blood from clotting by binding calcium

Lab Test : Coagulation

Red or Gold

Additive : Serum tube with or without clot activator or gel

Function : Clot activator promotes blood clotting with glass or silica particles. Gel separates serum from cells

Lab Test : Chemistry, Serology, Immunology

Green

Additive : Sodium or lithium heparin with or without gel

Function : Prevents clotting by inhibiting thrombin and thromboplastin

Lab Test : Stat and routine chemistry

Lavendar or Pink

Additive : Potassium EDTA

Function : Prevents clotting by binding calcium

Lab Test : Hematology and blood bank

Gray

Additive : Sodium fluoride, and sodium or potassium oxalate

Function : Fluoride inhibits glycolysis, and oxalate prevents clotting by precipitating calcium.

Lab Test : Glucose (especially when testing will be delayed), blood alcohol, lactic acid

Type of Container & Transportation

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Urine Container

Urine 24 hours

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Sterile Container

Used to store

  • Urine
  • Stool
  • Pus
  • Semen
  • Body fluids
  • Small tissue for
    Histopathology and cytology
  • Urine Biochemistry
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Sterile Bijou Bottle

  • CSF specimen for C&S
  • CSF specimen for biochemistry
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Transport stool for rectal swab C&S

  • Selenite F – for isolation
    Salmonella, &Shigella
  • Alkaline peptone water
    (APW) –for isolation of
    Vibrio sp

Viral Transport Medium (VTM)

  • Throat swab/rectal swab/NP swab
    for Virology Culture

Capillary tube

  • Capillary blood gas

Bacterial transport media with charcoal

  • Swab for bacterial C&S
  • Environmental swab for bacteria and fungi C&S

Bullet tube (1 ml)-Plain tube Peads

  • Serology test only
  • Immunology
  • Virology

ESR tube

  • ESR test (fill sanple up toindicator line)

Heparinized syringe

  • ABG test (transport sample with ice)

Sample Transportation

Ammonia

ABG Test

Three Layer Packaging for H1N1

Ice Box for blood bag

Biohazard plastic bag

◦ Other samples such as blood tube, urine container and etc. ◦ Attached request form outside the plastic bag (do not fold).

Liquid base picture (cytology)

Content and instruction varied depends on manufacturer. Contains 30-40% Ethanol based. Samples are stable in preservative up-to 2 months in room temperature.