The classification of vacuum blood collection tubes and the meaning of different color test tube caps

The classification of vacuum blood collection tubes and the meaning of different color test tube caps

1. (Ordinary Serum Tube) – Red cap, no additives in the blood collection tube, used for routine serum biochemistry, blood bank and serology related tests.
2. (Rapid Serum Tube) – orange-red head cover, there is a coagulant in the blood collection tube, which can activate fibrinase, turn soluble fibrin into insoluble fibrin polymer, and then form a stable fibrin clot. The rapid serum tube can coagulate the collected blood within 5 minutes, and is suitable for emergency serum serial tests.
3. (Inert Separation Gel Accelerator Tube)-Golden cap, inert separation gel and coagulant are added to the blood collection tube. After the sample is centrifuged, the inert separation gel can completely separate the liquid components (serum or plasma) and solid components (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, fibrin, etc.) in the blood and completely accumulate in the center of the test tube to form a barrier. keep it steady. Procoagulants can quickly activate the coagulation mechanism and accelerate the coagulation process, and are suitable for emergency serum biochemical tests.
4. (Heparin anticoagulation tube) – green cap, heparin is added to the blood collection tube. Heparin directly has the effect of antithrombin, which can prolong the coagulation time of the specimen. It is suitable for red blood cell fragility test, blood gas analysis, hematocrit test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and general energy biochemical determination, but not suitable for blood coagulation test. Excessive heparin can cause aggregation of white blood cells and cannot be used for white blood cell counts. It is also not suitable for leukocyte classification because it can make the blood film stained with a light blue background.
5. (Plasma separation tube) – light green head cover, adding heparin lithium anticoagulant to the inert separation rubber tube, can achieve the purpose of rapid separation of plasma, is the best choice for electrolyte detection, and can also be used for routine plasma biochemical determination and ICU Wait for emergency plasma biochemical testing. Plasma samples can be loaded directly on the machine and are stable for 48 hours under refrigeration.
6. (EDTA anticoagulation tube) – purple cap, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, molecular weight 292) and its salt is an amino polycarboxylic acid that can effectively chelate calcium ions in blood samples, chelating calcium or Removal of calcium-reactive sites will block and terminate the endogenous or exogenous coagulation process, thereby preventing the blood sample from coagulating. It is suitable for general hematological tests, not suitable for coagulation test and platelet function test, nor for the determination of calcium ion, potassium ion, sodium ion, iron ion, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and leucine aminopeptidase and PCR test.
7. (Sodium citrate coagulation test tube) – light blue cap, sodium citrate plays an anticoagulant effect mainly by chelating with calcium ions in the blood sample. Applicable to coagulation experiments, the anticoagulant concentration recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) is 3.2% or 3.8% (equivalent to 0.109mol/L or 0.129mol/L). The ratio of agent to blood is 1:9.
8. (Sodium citrate erythrocyte sedimentation rate test tube) – black cap, the sodium citrate concentration required for the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test is 3.2% (equivalent to 0.109mol/L), and the ratio of anticoagulant to blood is 1:4.
9. (Potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) – gray head cover, sodium fluoride is a weak anticoagulant, usually combined with potassium oxalate or sodium iodate, the ratio is 1 part of sodium fluoride, oxalic acid 3 parts potassium. 4mg of this mixture can make 1ml of blood not coagulate and inhibit glycolysis within 23 days. It is a good preservative for blood glucose determination, and cannot be used for the determination of urea by urease method, nor for the determination of alkaline phosphatase and amylase. Recommended for blood sugar testing.


Post time: Mar-01-2022