Order of Draw for Vacutainer Tubes: Importance and Color Guide

Summary

• Understanding the specific order of draw for vacutainer tubes is crucial in medical labs to prevent sample contamination and ensure accurate Test Results.
• The order of draw according to the color guide typically starts with tubes that contain additives to prevent clotting, followed by tubes with other additives, and ends with those used for blood cultures.
• Following the correct order of draw can help healthcare professionals streamline the blood collection process and improve patient care outcomes.

Introduction

Proper blood sample collection is essential in medical labs to ensure accurate Test Results and provide quality patient care. One critical aspect of blood collection is the specific order of draw for vacutainer tubes, which helps prevent sample contamination and ensure the integrity of the samples. In the United States, healthcare professionals follow a specific color guide for vacutainer tubes to maintain consistency and accuracy in the blood collection process.

Understanding the Order of Draw

Order of draw refers to the sequence in which blood samples are collected into different vacutainer tubes during a blood draw procedure. By following a specific order, healthcare professionals can prevent Cross-Contamination between samples and avoid erroneous Test Results. The order of draw is especially important when collecting multiple blood samples from the same patient at the same time.

Color Guide for Vacutainer Tubes

In the United States, vacutainer tubes are color-coded to indicate the additives or anticoagulants present in the tube. Each color corresponds to a specific type of blood collection tube with different additives to suit various laboratory tests. The specific order of draw for vacutainer tubes according to the color guide is as follows:

1. Light Blue

1. Light blue vacutainer tubes contain Sodium Citrate as an anticoagulant.
2. These tubes are used for coagulation tests, such as PT (Prothrombin Time) and APTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time).
3. These tubes should be drawn first to prevent the release of tissue thromboplastin from clotting tubes, which can interfere with coagulation tests.

2. Red

1. Red vacutainer tubes do not contain any additives.
2. These tubes are used for tests that require serum, such as blood chemistry tests.
3. Red tubes should be drawn after light blue tubes and before other tubes with additives.

3. Light Green

1. Light green vacutainer tubes contain lithium Heparin or sodium Heparin as an anticoagulant.
2. These tubes are used for tests that require plasma, such as electrolyte and blood gas tests.
3. Light green tubes should be drawn after red tubes and before other tubes with additives.

4. Dark Green

1. Dark green vacutainer tubes contain sodium Heparin as an anticoagulant.
2. These tubes are used for tests that require plasma, such as ammonia and some drug level tests.
3. Dark green tubes should be drawn after light green tubes and before other tubes with additives.

5. Lavender

1. Lavender vacutainer tubes contain EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) as an anticoagulant.
2. These tubes are used for tests that require whole blood, such as complete blood count (CBC) and Blood Smears.
3. Lavender tubes should be drawn after dark green tubes and before tubes with other additives.

6. Gray

1. Gray vacutainer tubes contain Potassium Oxalate and Sodium Fluoride as additives.
2. These tubes are used for tests that require plasma, such as glucose and lactate measurements.
3. Gray tubes should be drawn after lavender tubes and before tubes used for blood cultures.

7. Yellow

1. Yellow vacutainer tubes contain SPS (sodium polyanethol sulfonate) as an additive for Blood Culture specimens.
2. These tubes are used for collecting blood samples for microbiology tests to detect bacterial infections.
3. Yellow tubes should be drawn last in the order of draw to avoid contamination of other tubes with the Anticoagulant used for blood cultures.

Conclusion

Following the specific order of draw for vacutainer tubes according to the color guide is essential in medical labs to ensure accurate Test Results and provide quality patient care. By understanding the sequence in which blood samples should be collected, healthcare professionals can prevent sample contamination, maintain Sample Integrity, and streamline the blood collection process. Adhering to the recommended order of draw for vacutainer tubes can help improve the efficiency and accuracy of laboratory testing, ultimately benefiting patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.

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