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Blood Collection Tubes
Vacutainer-style blood collection tubes with EDTA, heparin, SST gel, and sodium citrate additives. Color-coded caps for clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, and serology workflows.
6+
Additive Types
2–10mL
Draw Volumes
EDTA, Blood Tube, 13 x 75mm, 3mL, 1000/unit
SKU: 682030202
Blood Collection Set, Green, 21G, 12", 200/unit
SKU: 596121302
Blood Collection Set, Blue, 23G, 12", 200/unit
SKU: 596123302
3.2% Citrate, Blood Tube, 13 x 75mm, 3mL, 1000/unit
SKU: 632030202
Lithium Heparin, Blood Tube, 13 x 75mm, 4mL, 1000/unit
SKU: 652040202
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Selecting the Right Blood Collection Tube
Each tube additive and cap color corresponds to a specific test panel. Selecting the wrong tube can cause hemolysis, clotting artifacts, or analyte interference that invalidates results. Use the comparison table below to match your assay requirements to the correct additive, and always follow your institution's order-of-draw protocol to prevent cross-contamination between additives.
ADDITIVE GUIDE
Tube Additive Comparison
| Additive | Cap Color | Mechanism | Primary Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| K2 EDTA | Lavender / Purple | Chelates calcium to prevent clotting | CBC, HbA1c, blood bank typing, molecular/PCR |
| K3 EDTA | Lavender / Purple | Chelates calcium (liquid form) | CBC, hematology where liquid anticoagulant preferred |
| Sodium Heparin | Green | Inhibits thrombin and factor Xa | Stat chemistry panels, lithium assays, ammonia |
| Lithium Heparin | Light Green | Inhibits thrombin and factor Xa | Comprehensive metabolic panel, stat electrolytes |
| SST Gel (Clot Activator) | Gold / Red-Gray | Silica activates clotting; gel separates serum | Routine chemistry, immunoassays, serology, thyroid panels |
| Sodium Citrate (3.2%) | Light Blue | Chelates calcium at fixed 9:1 blood-to-citrate ratio | PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, coagulation factor assays |
| Sodium Fluoride / K Oxalate | Gray | Fluoride inhibits glycolysis; oxalate anticoagulates | Glucose, lactate, blood alcohol |
| No Additive (Plain) | Red | No additive; blood clots naturally | Serology, blood bank antibody screens, drug levels |
💡Order of Draw
The recommended order of draw prevents additive carryover between tubes: Blood cultures (yellow) → Citrate (light blue) → SST / Plain (gold/red) → Heparin (green) → EDTA (lavender) → Fluoride/Oxalate (gray). Citrate tubes must be filled to the line for an accurate 9:1 ratio, or coagulation results will be invalid.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Blood Collection Tube FAQ
Cap color is standardized by ISO 6710 to indicate the tube additive. Lavender = EDTA, light blue = citrate, green = heparin, gold/red-gray = SST gel, red = no additive, gray = fluoride/oxalate. This system prevents mix-ups during phlebotomy and specimen processing.
We carry tubes in 2mL, 3mL, 4mL, 5mL, and 10mL draw volumes. Pediatric draws typically use 2–3mL tubes, while standard adult venipuncture uses 4–6mL. Choose based on the total volume your test panel requires.
When the needle passes from one tube to the next, trace amounts of additive can transfer. Drawing tubes in the recommended order prevents contamination — for example, EDTA carryover into a citrate tube would falsely prolong coagulation times by chelating additional calcium.
SST tubes should clot for 30 minutes at room temperature, then be centrifuged at 1,000–1,300 x g for 10 minutes. The gel barrier migrates during centrifugation to separate serum from the clot. Serum should be analyzed or aliquoted within 2 hours of centrifugation for most analytes.
No. EDTA chelates calcium and interferes with many chemistry assays, including electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase. Use lithium heparin (green top) or SST (gold top) for chemistry panels.
Sodium citrate tubes are pre-filled with liquid anticoagulant at a 9:1 blood-to-citrate ratio. The tube must be filled to the indicated line so the ratio is correct. Underfilling causes excess citrate relative to blood, which falsely prolongs PT and aPTT results.
Need help choosing the right tube?
Our team can help you match tube types to your test menu and volume requirements. Contact us for bulk pricing on clinical and research quantities.