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Blood collection tubes (vacutainer tubes) are color-coded by their cap color, and each color indicates a specific additive inside. Here is a complete list:
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blood collection vacutainer tube colors names additive complete list
Here is the complete list of blood collection (vacutainer) tube names by cap color:
Blood Collection Tube (Vacutainer) - Complete Color List
| Cap Color | Additive | Common Name | Main Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| š“ Red | None (no additive) | Plain Red / Clot Tube | Serology, immunology, blood bank, crossmatch |
| š” Gold / SST | Clot activator + gel separator | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | Chemistry, LFTs, TFTs, serology |
| š Orange | Thrombin | Rapid Serum Tube (RST) | Stat chemistry tests |
| šµ Light Blue | Sodium citrate (3.2%) | Coagulation Tube | PT, INR, aPTT, coagulation studies |
| ā« Black | Sodium citrate (buffered) | ESR Tube | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Westergren method) |
| š¢ Green | Sodium heparin / Lithium heparin | Heparin Tube | Ammonia, lithium levels, stat chemistry |
| š Light Green | Lithium heparin + gel | Plasma Separator Tube (PST) | Chemistry panels (plasma) |
| š£ Lavender / Purple | EDTA (K2 or K3) | EDTA Tube | CBC, blood film, HbA1c, blood group |
| š©· Pink | EDTA (K2) | Blood Bank / Type & Screen Tube | Crossmatch, transfusion medicine |
| š¤ Tan / Brown | EDTA or Heparin | Lead Tube | Lead levels |
| šµ Royal Blue | EDTA or no additive (metal-free) | Trace Element Tube | Zinc, copper, lead, mercury, toxicology |
| āŖ Gray | Sodium fluoride + Potassium oxalate | Fluoride/Oxalate Tube | Glucose, lactate (prevents glycolysis) |
| š” Yellow | ACD (Acid Citrate Dextrose) | ACD Tube | HLA typing, DNA studies, paternity testing |
| š¤ Yellow-Black | Broth mixture | Blood Culture Bottle | Aerobic/anaerobic cultures, fungi |
| š¤ Pearl / White | K2EDTA + gel | Molecular Tube | PCR, molecular testing |
| šµ Dark Blue | EDTA (trace metal-free) | Toxicology Tube | Heavy metal screening |
Order of Draw (Standard)
- Blood culture bottles
- Royal Blue (no additive)
- Light Blue (sodium citrate)
- Red / Gold (SST)
- Green / Light Green (heparin)
- Lavender / Pink (EDTA)
- Gray (fluoride)
- Yellow (ACD)
Key memory tip: "Stop (Red) Before (Blue) Little (Light blue) Green (Green) Monkeys (Mauve/Lavender) Go (Gray) Yellow"
This order prevents additive carryover contamination between tubes during collection.
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