Understanding Different Types of Tubes and When They Require Inversion

Summary

• Understanding the different types of tubes and when they require inversion is essential for proper specimen collection and processing.
• Red Top tubes, which contain Clot Activator, should be inverted 5 times to ensure proper mixing of the blood and clotting factors.
• Other types of tubes, such as green top tubes for chemistry tests and Lavender Top tubes for hematology tests, may require different amounts of inversion depending on the specific test being performed.

Introduction

When collecting blood specimens for laboratory testing, it is important to ensure that the tubes are properly prepared and processed to obtain accurate results. One key step in this process is the inversion of tubes after blood collection. Inversion helps to mix the blood with any additives in the tube and prevent clotting. Different types of tubes require different amounts of inversion to ensure proper mixing. In this article, we will explore how often different tubes require inversion for various types of laboratory tests.

Red Top Tubes

Red Top tubes are commonly used for collecting blood samples for chemistry tests. These tubes contain a Clot Activator that promotes clotting of the blood to separate the serum from the other blood components. To ensure proper mixing of the blood with the Clot Activator, Red Top tubes should be inverted 5 times immediately after blood collection. This thorough mixing helps to prevent clotting and ensures accurate Test Results.

Green Top Tubes

Green top tubes, also known as Heparin tubes, contain the Anticoagulant Heparin to prevent clotting of the blood. These tubes are used for collecting blood samples for chemistry tests that require plasma instead of serum. The amount of inversion required for green top tubes may vary depending on the specific test being performed. In general, green top tubes should be inverted at least 8-10 times to ensure proper mixing of the blood with the Heparin additive.

Purple Top Tubes

Purple top tubes, also known as EDTA tubes, contain the Anticoagulant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to prevent clotting of the blood. These tubes are commonly used for collecting blood samples for hematology tests. The amount of inversion required for purple top tubes may vary depending on the specific test being performed. In general, purple top tubes should be inverted at least 8-10 times to ensure proper mixing of the blood with the EDTA additive.

Blue Top Tubes

Blue top tubes, also known as citrate tubes, contain the Anticoagulant Sodium Citrate to prevent clotting of the blood by binding to calcium ions. These tubes are used for collecting blood samples for coagulation tests. To ensure proper mixing of the blood with the Sodium Citrate additive, blue top tubes should be inverted at least 3-4 times after blood collection.

Yellow Top Tubes

Yellow top tubes, also known as acid citrate dextrose (ACD) tubes, contain the Anticoagulant ACD to prevent clotting of the blood. These tubes are commonly used for collecting blood samples for Blood Culture tests. The amount of inversion required for yellow top tubes may vary depending on the specific test being performed. In general, yellow top tubes should be inverted at least 8-10 times to ensure proper mixing of the blood with the ACD additive.

Conclusion

Proper inversion of blood collection tubes is essential for ensuring accurate laboratory Test Results. Different types of tubes contain different additives that require specific amounts of inversion to ensure proper mixing of the blood. Understanding when and how often different tubes require inversion is crucial for proper specimen collection and processing. By following the guidelines for inversion of different tubes, Healthcare Providers can help to ensure accurate and reliable laboratory Test Results for their patients.

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