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Types of Blood Samples, Criteria for rejection of the blood sample, Color coding of the blood sample tubes

April 9, 2023HematologyLab Tests

Blood Samples

Blood samples types:

  1. The blood sample from the patients is of various types according to the type of blood tests.
  2. These blood sample timings are also critical, and some of the tests may need a fasting sample, while some tests may be done on random samples.
    Types of blood samples

    Types of blood samples

Blood Samples: Various Blood sample types

Blood Samples: Various Blood sample types

Venous blood:

  1. This is the easiest way to collect the blood sample.
  2. It is free of complications.
  3. Blood is taken from the superficial veins.
  4. The commonest site is the antecubital fossa because of the presence of the basilic vein, cephalic vein, and median cubital veins are the commonest veins.
    1. Veins of the wrist or hand may be used.
    2. Another site is the femoral vein.
Blood Samples: Venous blood sites on the arm

Blood Samples: Venous blood sites on the arm

Arterial blood:

  1. Arterial blood is used to measure arterial blood gases like oxygen, CO2, and pH.
  2. Arterial puncture is more difficult than the venous sample.
  3. The Brachial and radial arteries are often used; the femoral artery is usually avoided because of bleeding.

Capillary blood:

  1. It is mostly used in the pediatric patient group where there is no need for a large amount of blood.
  2. The common sites are the fingertips, heel, and ear lobes. The heel is most commonly used in infants.
Blood Samples: Capillary blood procedure sites

Blood Samples: Capillary blood procedure sites

Blood sample finger prick

Blood sample finger prick

Criteria for the rejection of the blood samples:

  1. Blood samples are not labeled or not properly labeled.
  2. Insufficient blood quantity.
  3. Blood sample showing hemolysis.
  4. A wrong collection tube is used.
  5. Insufficient quantity of anticoagulants.
  6. Improper transport of the sample.

Blood samples commercially color-coded tubes:

  • The following table shows their color and the purpose of their use:
Stopper tube Additives Outcome of additive Purpose of use Test tubes
  • Red
  1. N0 anticoagulant
  2. No additives
  • For serum
  1. Chemistry
  2. Serology
  3. Blood banking
  • Lavender
  • EDTA
  1. Anticoagulant, for plasma
  2. Remove calcium and prevent clotting.
  3. Invert the tube 6 to 8 times
  1. CBC
  2. CEA
  3. Best for hematology
  • Orange
  • Thrombin
  1. Accelerate the clot, usually in 5 minutes, for serum formation
  2. It should be inverted 8 times.
  1. All serum test
  2. Chemistry
  • Light Blue
  • Sod. Citrate
  1. anticoagulant binds calcium.
  2. Get blood or plasma
  1. Coagulation studies
  2. PT, APTT, factor assay
  • Gray
  • Na fluoride/K oxalate
  1. Inhibit glycolysis
  2. Anticoagulant, remove Ca++ to prevent clotting.
  3. Get whole blood or plasma.
  1. Glucose
  2. GTT
  3. Alcohol level
  • Green
  1. Na+ Heparin
  2. Lithium Heparin
  3. Ammonium Heparin
  1. Inhibit thrombin activation to prevent clotting.
  2. Get whole blood or plasma.
  3. Invert the tube 7 to 10 times to prevent clotting
  1. Ammonia level
  2. Arteria blood gases
  3. Carboxy Hb
  4. Lead
  5. Plasma chemistry
  6. Hormones
  7. Electrolytes
  • Yellow
Na+polyanetholesulfate
  1. Prevent blood from clotting
  2. Stabilize bacterial growth
  3. Invert the tube 8 times to prevent clotting
Blood culture
  • Glod
  1. Gel-separator
  2. Clot activator
  1. Clot activator shortens the time for clot formation.
  2. The gel forms a separator between cells and serum.
  3. Invert the tube 5 times and centrifuge after the clot formation
  1. Most chemistry tests
  2. Not good for blood banking
  • Light green
  1. Gel separator
  2. Lithium heparin
  1. Heparin prevents clotting
  2. The gel prevents cell contamination.
Potassium determination Blood tube coding
  • Black
  1. Na + citrate

 

  1. Binds  Ca++
  2. 4:1 ratio of blood to anticoagulant
Westgreen ESR determination

Summary of the color-coded blood collection tubes:

  1. Red top tube = No additives for chemistry tests.
  2. Blue top = Coagulation studies.
  3. Green top = For general purpose, blood gases, chemistry.
  4. Lavender top = For CBC and hematology.
  5. Gray top = For chemistry and glucose.
  6. Yellow top = For blood culture.

Contents difference between plasma and Red blood cells:

 Contents Plasma  Red Blood Cells
 Glucose mg/dL 90 74
 Uric acid 4.6 2.5
 Nonprotein nitrogen mg/dL 8.0 40
 Cholesterol mg/dL 194 139
 K+ meq/L 4.4 100
 Na+ meq/L 140 16
Ca2+ meq/L 5.0 0.5
Cl– meq/L 104 52
HCO3– mmol/L 26 19
LDH  units 360 58000
Transaminase 25 500
  • Above is a picture presentation of test tubes.

Possible References Used
Go Back to Hematology

Comments

Mahesh Reply
September 28, 2020

Good

Dr. Riaz Reply
March 21, 2021

Thanks

Iqbal Reply
April 9, 2023

Marvellous

Dr. Riaz Reply
April 9, 2023

Thanks.

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