Understanding Anticoagulants in the Dark Green Tube: Sodium Heparin and Lithium Heparin
Summary
- The dark green tube used in phlebotomy procedures in the United States typically contains additives that help prevent clotting of blood samples.
- These additives include sodium Heparin and/or lithium Heparin, which act as anticoagulants to keep blood from clotting.
- The dark green tube is commonly used for tests that require plasma or whole blood samples, such as chemistry panels and blood gas analysis.
Introduction
Phlebotomy procedures are an essential part of healthcare, allowing clinicians to collect blood samples for diagnostic testing. Different color-coded tubes are used to collect blood samples for different tests, with each tube containing specific additives to ensure the integrity of the sample. One of the most commonly used tubes in phlebotomy procedures is the dark green tube, which contains particular additives to prevent blood from clotting during testing. In this article, we will explore the additives typically found in the dark green tube used in phlebotomy procedures in the United States.
Anticoagulants in the Dark Green Tube
The dark green tube used in phlebotomy procedures typically contains additives that act as anticoagulants to prevent blood from clotting. The two most common types of anticoagulants found in the dark green tube are sodium Heparin and lithium Heparin.
Sodium Heparin
Sodium Heparin is a synthetic form of Heparin, a naturally occurring Anticoagulant produced by the body. When added to the dark green tube, sodium Heparin prevents the formation of blood clots by inhibiting the activity of thrombin, an enzyme involved in the clotting process. This allows the blood sample to remain liquid during testing, ensuring accurate results.
Lithium Heparin
Lithium Heparin is another commonly used Anticoagulant in the dark green tube. Like sodium Heparin, lithium Heparin works by inhibiting the activity of thrombin to prevent blood clotting. However, lithium Heparin is preferred in some cases due to its stability and compatibility with certain tests.
Uses of the Dark Green Tube
The dark green tube is typically used for tests that require plasma or whole blood samples, such as chemistry panels and blood gas analysis. Some of the common tests that are performed using blood samples collected in the dark green tube include:
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- Basic metabolic panel (BMP)
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis
- Electrolyte panels
These tests require plasma or whole blood samples to measure various components of the blood, such as electrolyte levels, liver function markers, and blood gas parameters. The dark green tube is specifically designed to prevent blood from clotting during the collection and processing of samples for these tests, ensuring accurate and reliable results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the dark green tube used in phlebotomy procedures in the United States typically contains additives such as sodium Heparin and lithium Heparin to prevent blood from clotting. These anticoagulants ensure the integrity of blood samples collected for tests that require plasma or whole blood samples, such as chemistry panels and blood gas analysis. Understanding the additives in the dark green tube and their functions is essential for healthcare professionals to ensure accurate Test Results and provide quality patient care.
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