Blood Test Tubes: Color-Top Tubes, Additives, and Sample Types - Comprehensive Guide

Question
will you provide me with information on the departments,color top tubes,additives, and serum, plasma, whole blood or urine. Listed are the tests I need this info for: CBC, SICKLE CELL,PLT, TSH, MG, TRIGLYCERIDE, PHOS, BILIRUBIN, TS, CROSSMATCH, FIB, PT/PTT/INR, LIPASE, RA, RPR/VDRL, DRUG TEST,HCGQL, HCGQT, AMYLASE,UR HCGQL, UR TOXICOLOGY, D-DIMER, DIMER.

Answer
Hi Diane.  For all the tests you listed, I will answer, but I must tell you that different labs may have different requirements for the same test.  I will give you the specimen requirements for the lab where I work.

CBC/Sickle Cell/PLT(platelets)/D-DIMER - purple top tube, additive-EDTA, whole blood, department-hematology

TS(type and screen)/CROSSMATCH - red top tube, no additive, serum, department-blood bank

FIB(fibrinogen)/PT/PTT/INR - blue top tube, additive-sodium citrate, plasma, department-coagulation

UR TOXICOLOGY - urine, department-serology

TSH/MG/TRIGLYCERIDE/PHOS/BILIRUBIN/LIPASE/HCGQT/HCGQL/AMYLASE - red top tube (no additive, serum), gold top (SST or serum separator) tube (no additive, serum) or green top tube (additive-lithium heparin, plasma), department-chemistry

RA/RPR/VDRL - red top tube, no additive, serum, department-serology

Hope this helps!

Samantha