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