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

March 22, 2021HematologyLab Tests

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

Various Blood sample types

Various Blood sample types

  1. 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 basilic vein, cephalic vein, median cubital veins are the commonest veins.
      1. Veins of the wrist or hand may be used.
      2. Another site is the femoral vein.
        Venous blood sites on the arm

        Venous blood sites on the arm

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

      Capillary blood procedure sites

Blood sample finger prick

Blood sample finger prick

Criteria for the rejection of the blood sample:

  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 the anticoagulants.
  6. Improper transport of the sample.

Nowadays, there are commercially color-coded tubes available:

  • The following table shows their color and the purpose of the 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 tube 6 to 8 times
    1. CBC
    2. CEA
    3. Best for hematology
    Orange Thrombin
    1. Accelerate 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 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

Add Comment Cancel


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