2007-03-02 14:29:30 · 7 answers · asked by Juan C 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
These test tubes are called Vacutainer's which are for the purpose of venipuncture (drawing blood from an individual).
Just to save myself some time spending years (not really 'years') typing the defeintions out, here is a quick explanation from Wikipedia, a great online resource.
* Green - Contains the lithium salt of heparin, an anticoagulant. Also may contain ammonium or sodium salts of heparin.
* Purple or lavender - contains EDTA (the potassium salt, or K2EDTA). This is a strong anticoagulant and these tubes are usually used for full blood counts and blood films. Can also be used for blood banks.
* Grey - These tubes contain fluoride and oxalate. Fluoride prevents enzymes in the blood from working, so a substrate such as glucose will not be gradually used up during storage. Oxalate is an anticoagulant.
* Light blue - Contain a measured amount of citrate. Citrate is a reversible anticoagulant, and these tubes are used for coagulation assays. Because the liquid citrate dilutes the blood, it is important the tube is full so the dilution is properly accounted for.
* Dark Blue - Contains the sodium salt of heparin, an anticoagulant. Also can contain EDTA as an additive or have no additive. These tubes are used for trace metal analysis.
* Pink - Similar to purple tubes (both contain EDTA) these are used for ABO grouping and cross-matching.
2007-03-02 15:00:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blood Test Tube Colors
2016-12-28 15:13:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blood Tube Colors
2016-10-06 23:47:16 · answer #3 · answered by porcelli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For different lab tests, different additives are needed. Usually a specific anticoagulant such as EDTA or heparin. Generally, red top tubes have no additive and allow the blood to clot, be spun in a centrifuge, and separate the serum from the clot/red blood cells for serile tests.
2007-03-02 14:40:57 · answer #4 · answered by Sweet Gran 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different tubes and different solution in tubes for different tests. Sometimes the blood needs to be tested unclotted; sometimes it needs separated, ect.
2007-03-02 15:11:46 · answer #5 · answered by tlbrown42000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm not sure what the color for hiv is but i know some thing about test tubes and blood testing because of my gentic disoder has the chance of cuaseing cancer i have to get tested every year the differnt color stand for differnt diseas they'll test you for and blood levels and blood type
2016-03-16 03:23:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For each lab they vary slightly. In my lab the purple topped tubes are for a complete blood count (CBC) which tells you your white and red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Tiger topped tubes are for blood chemistries, the minerals that are in our bodies, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, for kidney function, thyroid function, liver function and for cholesterol.
The plain red topped tubes are for drug levels.
The light blue topped tubes are for PT/PTT/INR levels which tell how thick/thin your blood is.
The light green topped tubes are used for people suspected of having a heart attack (called an AMI profile).
The green tiger topped tubes are for an ammonia level.
Hope this helps, but remember, each lab varies slightly.
2007-03-06 10:26:58 · answer #7 · answered by kbib12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋