What color tube is used for blood collection that does not contain anticoagulant?

What color tube is used for blood collection that does not contain anticoagulant?

• A. Red
• B. Purple
• C. Green
• D. Gray

Answer: (A)

The red tube is commonly used for blood collection when an anticoagulant is not required. This type of tube typically contains a clot activator or is simply a plain tube, allowing the blood to clot naturally. After collection, the serum can be separated from the clot when the tube is centrifuged, making it particularly useful for tests that require serum for analysis. The other choices refer to tubes that contain specific additives used to prevent clotting. The purple tube usually contains EDTA, which acts as an anticoagulant for hematology studies. The green tube has heparin, another type of anticoagulant used for various tests including chemistry panels. The gray tube often contains additives aimed at preserving glucose levels or inhibiting glycolysis but is also designed to prevent clotting. Hence, the red tube is the appropriate choice when no anticoagulant is needed for the blood collection.

The red tube is commonly used for blood collection when an anticoagulant is not required. This type of tube typically contains a clot activator or is simply a plain tube, allowing the blood to clot naturally. After collection, the serum can be separated from the clot when the tube is centrifuged, making it particularly useful for tests that require serum for analysis.

The other choices refer to tubes that contain specific additives used to prevent clotting. The purple tube usually contains EDTA, which acts as an anticoagulant for hematology studies. The green tube has heparin, another type of anticoagulant used for various tests including chemistry panels. The gray tube often contains additives aimed at preserving glucose levels or inhibiting glycolysis but is also designed to prevent clotting. Hence, the red tube is the appropriate choice when no anticoagulant is needed for the blood collection.