PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES

EVACUATED BLOOD COLLECTION TUBE GUIDE.
Listed in Order of Draw for Blood Collection Tubes and Syringe Collections.

STOPPER COLOR	SYMBOL	CONTENTS	VOL.	USES/COMMENTS
Blood Culture Bottles are ALWAYS drawn prior to other labs to reduce contamination. .
Royal Blue		No additive (serum); special glass and stopper material	7.0 mL	ONLY if being used to collect trace metals (e.g. copper)*, most drug levels, and toxicology screens
Red		No additive	7.0 mL	Cryoglobulins and CH50
Light Blue		3.2% Sodium Citrate	4.5 mL	PT, PTT, TCT, CMV buffy coat, Factor Activity Tube MUST be filled 100% - No exceptions!
Royal Blue		(K2)EDTA	7.0 mL	Lead levels
Gold Top (Serum Separator, "SST")		Contains separating gel and clot activator	6.0 mL	Most chemistry, endocrine and serology tests, including Hepatitis and HIV
Light Blue - Yellow Label on Tube		Thrombin	2.0 mL	For FDP test ONLY; Obtain tube from Core Lab Coag; Allow to Clot
Mint Green		Lithium Heparin with PST gel (plasma separator tube)	7.0 mL	Most Chemistry tests
Dark Green with Stripes on label		Sodium heparin (100 USP Units)	5.0 mL	Cytogenetics, HLA Typing
Dark Green with no stripes on label		Lithium Heparin only (no gel)	4.0 mL	Ammonia, lactate, ionized calcium, Busulfan
Yellow		ACD Solution A consists of trisodium citrate, citric acid and dextrose	8.5 mL	DNA Studies, HIV Cultures
Pink		(K2)EDTA	Draws 6 mL - Minimum 4 mL	Blood type & Screen, Compatibility Study, Direct Coombs
Pearl Top (Plasma Preparation, "PPT")		Separating gel and (K2)EDTA	4.0 mL	Adenovirus PCR Toxoplasma PCR HHV-6 PCR HIV Viral Load PCR
Lavender ("Purple")		(K2)EDTA	3.0 mL	CBC/Diff/Retic/Sed Rate, FK506, Cyclosporin, Platelet Ab, Coombs, Flow Cytometry

NOTE: All tubes sterile.

Standard order of draw: BLOOD CULTURES, royal blue, red, light blue, SST (Gold), green, tan, yellow, pink, pearl, lavender. If a coag tube (light blue) is the only tube or the first tube to be drawn, a 5 mL discard tube must be drawn first.

Blood Culture Options (Specify Culture Type when Ordering)