tube color

• Blood culture tube


  • "Whisky bottle" shape to make bacteria grow
• Light blue tube


  • Contains citric acid
• Red/gold/tiger tube


  • Contains nothing or clot activator for blood profile (kidney, liver and lipid)
• Green tube


  • Contains heparin for blood gas levels
• Lavender tube


  • Contains EDTA for complete blood count
• Royal blue tube


  • Contains none or EDTA for testing toxic substances
• What is the correct order of draw?

  blood culture, light blue, red/gold/tiger, green, lavender, royal blue, gray
• what does the gray tube have?

  sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate
• what is the grey tube use for?

  blood glucose tolerance test
• Purple top (EDTA) - second draw, used for CBC