A predetermined volume of blood is filled in the vacutainer tubes by fixed vacuum. Vacutainer tubes are available in various sizes. It is important not to mix the blood from different tubes since this mix the additives from different tubes. The vacutainer tube tops are color coded to indicate the additive present.
A special gel with intermediate density between blood cells and serum can be present in the tubes or the tubes may contain additives which include anticoagulants (EDTA, sodium citrate, and heparin) or some other chemicals. For glucose determinations, tubes contain additives that preserve glucose in the blood. For separation of serum, the serum separator tube is centrifuged, and the blood cells sink to the bottom of the tube, are covered by a layer of the gel leaving the serum on top. Transporting these tubes is easier because the gel enables the tube to be tipped upside-down without the blood cells remixing with the serum. For obtaining Plasma, which is the clear liquid containing fibrinogen and platelets, tube without gel or anticoagulant is centrifuged.
Different colors are uniform across manufacturers for chemical additives. Gold or 'Tiger' Red/Black top: these tubes do not contain any additive; Serum Separator tubes (SST) contain clot activator and gel for serum separation on centrifugation. These are used in chemistry, immunology and serology determinations. Orange or Grey/Yellow 'Tiger' Top: a rapid clot activator, Thrombin is present which is used for STAT (urgent) serum chemistry determinations.
Green " Plasma determinations of lithium level use sodium heparin and for ammonia levels sodium or lithium heparin is used. Contains Sodium Heparin or Lithium Heparin as anticoagulants. Light Green or Green/Gray Tiger: Blood chemistry determination uses this additive when plasma is used for analysis. PST gel separates plasma at the bottom of the tube.
Purple or lavender - contains EDTA (the potassium salt, or K2EDTA), forms calcium salts to remove calcium. This is a strong anticoagulant and these tubes are usually used for complete blood counts (CBC) and blood films. Lavender top tubes are generally used when whole blood is needed for analysis. Can also be used for some blood bank procedures such as blood type and screen, but other blood bank procedures, such as crossmatches must be in a pink tube in most facilities. Requires full draw - invert 8 times to prevent clotting and platelet clumping Grey - These tubes contain Sodium fluoride and Potassium oxalate. Fluoride inhibits enzymes in the blood, so substrate glucose is not used up, Oxalate is an anticoagulant. Blood glucose determination, requires full draw.
Light blue: These tubes are used for coagulation assays since they contain citrate which is a reversible anticoagulant. Proper dilution factor is attained by filling the tube full since liquid citrate dilutes the blood. Dark Blue: Anticoagulant sodium heparin is present or EDTA or no additive. These tubes are used for toxicology and trace metal analysis. Pink: Blood banking and Molecular/viral load testing application. Similar to purple tubes in that it also contains EDTA.
Red (glass): blood clots in this tube because no additives are present and centrifugation is used to separate serum. Red tubes are used for Chemistries, antibodies, and in Blood Bank (Crossmatch). Light yellow: if the additive is sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS), then used for blood culture specimens or additive acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD), used for blood bank studies, HLA tissue typing, and paternity testing, DNA studies. Tan (glass or plastic): Sodium heparin (glass) or K2EDTA (plastic) is present as an additive. Prevents clotting by inactivating thrombin and thromboplastin; specifically used for serum lead determinations since they are certified to contain no lead traces.
Phlebotomy training courses, in addition to teaching collection techniques, correct procedures and order of draw as specified by NCCLS, also prepare the phlebotomist for emergencies and help to understand proper laboratory procedures in order to avoid contamination or infection control requirements.
A special gel with intermediate density between blood cells and serum can be present in the tubes or the tubes may contain additives which include anticoagulants (EDTA, sodium citrate, and heparin) or some other chemicals. For glucose determinations, tubes contain additives that preserve glucose in the blood. For separation of serum, the serum separator tube is centrifuged, and the blood cells sink to the bottom of the tube, are covered by a layer of the gel leaving the serum on top. Transporting these tubes is easier because the gel enables the tube to be tipped upside-down without the blood cells remixing with the serum. For obtaining Plasma, which is the clear liquid containing fibrinogen and platelets, tube without gel or anticoagulant is centrifuged.
Different colors are uniform across manufacturers for chemical additives. Gold or 'Tiger' Red/Black top: these tubes do not contain any additive; Serum Separator tubes (SST) contain clot activator and gel for serum separation on centrifugation. These are used in chemistry, immunology and serology determinations. Orange or Grey/Yellow 'Tiger' Top: a rapid clot activator, Thrombin is present which is used for STAT (urgent) serum chemistry determinations.
Green " Plasma determinations of lithium level use sodium heparin and for ammonia levels sodium or lithium heparin is used. Contains Sodium Heparin or Lithium Heparin as anticoagulants. Light Green or Green/Gray Tiger: Blood chemistry determination uses this additive when plasma is used for analysis. PST gel separates plasma at the bottom of the tube.
Purple or lavender - contains EDTA (the potassium salt, or K2EDTA), forms calcium salts to remove calcium. This is a strong anticoagulant and these tubes are usually used for complete blood counts (CBC) and blood films. Lavender top tubes are generally used when whole blood is needed for analysis. Can also be used for some blood bank procedures such as blood type and screen, but other blood bank procedures, such as crossmatches must be in a pink tube in most facilities. Requires full draw - invert 8 times to prevent clotting and platelet clumping Grey - These tubes contain Sodium fluoride and Potassium oxalate. Fluoride inhibits enzymes in the blood, so substrate glucose is not used up, Oxalate is an anticoagulant. Blood glucose determination, requires full draw.
Light blue: These tubes are used for coagulation assays since they contain citrate which is a reversible anticoagulant. Proper dilution factor is attained by filling the tube full since liquid citrate dilutes the blood. Dark Blue: Anticoagulant sodium heparin is present or EDTA or no additive. These tubes are used for toxicology and trace metal analysis. Pink: Blood banking and Molecular/viral load testing application. Similar to purple tubes in that it also contains EDTA.
Red (glass): blood clots in this tube because no additives are present and centrifugation is used to separate serum. Red tubes are used for Chemistries, antibodies, and in Blood Bank (Crossmatch). Light yellow: if the additive is sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS), then used for blood culture specimens or additive acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD), used for blood bank studies, HLA tissue typing, and paternity testing, DNA studies. Tan (glass or plastic): Sodium heparin (glass) or K2EDTA (plastic) is present as an additive. Prevents clotting by inactivating thrombin and thromboplastin; specifically used for serum lead determinations since they are certified to contain no lead traces.
Phlebotomy training courses, in addition to teaching collection techniques, correct procedures and order of draw as specified by NCCLS, also prepare the phlebotomist for emergencies and help to understand proper laboratory procedures in order to avoid contamination or infection control requirements.
About the Author:
London, UK: Maxis Healthcare Limited run professional 1 Day Fasttrack Phlebotomy Training Courses. Learn How to become a phlebotomist And Get Phlebotomy Training From Phlebotomy Trainers With Over 30 Years Practical Experience and a FREE 10 Day Phelebotomy Taster Course.
No comments:
Post a Comment