sterile specimens (bloodculturetubes) or yellow sps
coagulation tubes (light blue-topped)
sst (gold or red/black)
serum (redplastic or glass)
heparin (green)
pst (light-green or green/gray)
edta (pink or lavender)
fluoride (glucose)(gray)
When using a winged collection set, a discard tube eliminates the dead air space and ensures the proper blood - to - adjustment ratio is maintained in the coagulation tube.
Notes:
Release of tissue thromboplastin from the skin as it is punctured can be present in the first tube collected.
If only a coagulation test (blue tube) is ordered, a small red/gray tube should be drawn first.
It is possible to contaminate tubes with anticoagulants from other tubes.
When sterile specimens are collected, such as with blood cultures, they must be drawn first to prevent contamination from other tubes.