The color vacutainer tube typically used for cholesterol testing is the gold or tiger-top (SST) tube, which contains a serum separator gel. Alternatively, a light green tube (lithium heparin) can also be used for certain cholesterol tests. These tubes help separate the serum from the blood cells after centrifugation, allowing for accurate measurement of cholesterol levels.
A gold or red-top vacutainer tube is typically used for a basic metabolic panel (BMP) blood draw.
The fourth color Vacutainer tube in the order of blood draw is typically the green-top tube, which contains lithium heparin as an anticoagulant. It is usually used for chemistry tests that require plasma.
Lavender
red top
A green-top vacutainer tube (or sometimes a pink-top tube) is typically used for collecting blood samples for lithium level testing. The green tube usually contains lithium heparin as an anticoagulant for plasma testing, while the pink tube may contain EDTA if plasma separation is not required. The specific tube color may vary depending on the lab's protocols, so it's best to confirm with the lab where the test will be performed.
The additive in a white top vacutainer tube is typically EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), which is a chelating agent used to bind and sequester calcium ions to inhibit coagulation by preventing blood clotting. It is commonly used for hematology testing.
For a blood chemistry test, commonly a lavender-top (EDTA) vacutainer tube is used. These tubes are used to collect whole blood samples for testing electrolytes, metabolites, and other chemical components in the blood.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone produced by the heart in response to heart failure. The vacutainer tube used to collect blood for a BNP test does not have a specific color requirement, as long as it contains an anticoagulant to prevent blood from clotting. The color of the vacutainer top may vary depending on the manufacturer or type of anticoagulant used.
The glass tube used to collect blood during a lab test is called a vacuum tube or a vacutainer. These tubes come in various colors, each indicating the type of additive or preservative inside for different types of tests.
When venipuncture is performed using a lavender vacutainer tube, the sample collected is typically used for hematology testing, such as complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and blood typing. The lavender top tube contains EDTA as an anticoagulant to preserve the blood sample for these types of tests.
A vacutainer is a vacuum pressured flask that is normally used for blood collection. Useful for drawing blood.
A serum or plasma sample is typically used to test cholesterol levels. The sample is collected in a tube with no anticoagulant or a tube containing a gel separator to separate the serum or plasma from the cellular components after centrifugation.