Tubes!

1st in order of draw

yellow tubes

2nd in order of draw

light blue tubes

3rd in order of draw

red tubes

4th in order of draw

tiger (speckled) tubes

5th in order of draw

gold tubes

6th in order of draw

green tubes

7th in order of draw

lavender tubes

8th in order of draw

grey tubes

Specimen: Yellow Tubes

whole blood

Specimen: Light Blue Tubes

plasma

Specimen: Red Tubes

serum

Specimen: Tiger (Speckled) Tubes

serum

Specimen: Gold Tubes

serum

Specimen: Green Tubes

plasma

Specimen: Lavender Tubes

whole blood

Specimen: Grey Tubes

plasma

Additive: Yellow Tubes

SPS, ACD

Additive: Light Blue Tubes

Sodium Citrate

Additive: Red Tubes

None

Additive: Tiger (Speckled) Tubes

Clot Activator (Serum Separator)

Additive: Gold Tubes

Thrombin (Causes blood to clot in <5 minutes)

Additive: Green Tubes

Heparin

Additive: Lavender Tubes

EDTA

Additive: Grey Tubes

Sodium Fluoride and Potassium Oxalate

Test: Yellow Tubes

Blood Cultures

Test: Light Blue Tubes

PT/ APTT/Coagulation Studies

Test: Red Tubes

Immunology, Serology, Blood Bank

Test: Tiger (Speckled) Tubes

CMP, Endocrine, Immunology, Serology

Test: Gold Tubes

STAT

Test: Green Tubes

STAT Chemistry Test, Ammonia, Electrolytes, ABG's

Test: Lavender Tubes

CBC, ESR, Hemaglobin

Test: Grey Tubes

Lactic Acid, Blood Alcohol Levels, FBS, Glucose Tolerance

Department: Yellow Tubes

Microbiology

Department: Light Blue Tubes

Coagulation Studies

Department: Red Tubes

Chemistry

Department: Tiger (Speckled) Tubes

Chemistry

Department: Gold Tubes

Chemistry

Department: Green Tubes

Chemistry or Molecular Lab

Department: Lavender Tubes

Hematology

Department: Grey Tubes

Chemistry

Inversion: Yellow Tubes

8-10 times

Inversion: Light Blue Tubes

3-4 times

Inversion: Red Tubes

5 times; clots in 30 minutes

Inversion: Tiger (Speckled) Tubes

5-8 times; wait 30 minutes, centrifuge

Inversion: Gold Tubes

5-6 times

Inversion: Green Tubes

8-10 times

Inversion: Lavender

8-10 times

Inversion: Grey

8-10 times

Additive: Tan Tubes

K2, EDTA

Additive: Royal Blue

Heparin, EDTA, None

Test: Tan

Lead

Test: Royal Blue

Toxicology, Trace Metal

Department: Tan

Chemistry

Department: Royal Blue

Chemistry

Inversion: Tan

8-10 times

Inversion: Royal Blue

8-10 times

Specimen: Tan

Plasma

Specimen: Royal Blue

Plasma or Serum

Additive: Black Tube

Sodium Citrate

Test: Black Tube

ESR

Department: Black Tube

Chemistry

Inversion: Black Tube

8-10 Times

Specimen: Black Tube

Whole Blood