Test on Monday

• Rainbow Order of Draw

  • light blue/ Blue top
  • Gold/Tiger Top
  • mint/ green
  • lavender/purple
  • gray
• Blood collected for cytogenetic analysis should be collected in green top tubes
• Additives of the Rainbow Order of Draw

  1. Sodium Citrate for the Light Blue Tube 2. Serum (S.S.T) for the Gold/Tiger Tube
  2. Lithium Heparin for the Mint-Green Tube
  3. EDTA for the Purple Tube
  4. Sodium Fluoride & Potassium Oxalate for the Gray Tube
• Blood collected for blood cell count should be collected in purple top tubes
• Purple top tube


  Should be inverted 8-10 times
• Light blue top tube


  Should be inverted 3-4 times
• Alkaline phosphates should never be collected in grey top tubes
• Light blue top tube


  Contains Sodium Citrate as the additive
• Blood collected for testing of blood copper levels should be collected in dark (royal) blue top tubes
• Blood that needs to be tested for lead levels should be collected in tan top tubes