MDLB 1321

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Blood
BLOOD CULTURE Culture

BOTTLES
SPECIMEN REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE BLOOD
WHOLE BLOOD Needs to be sterile.
Minimized chance of contamination if
DEPARTMENT collected first.
MICROBIOLOGY

HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS Binds calcium.
BLOOD CULTURE
Reduces complement.
Slows down phagocytosis.
Contain nutrient broth for bacterial growth.
Contain antibiotic absorbing resin beads.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
MIXING
Invert several times to avoid One collection includes 2 bottles.
clotting and to neutralize Detailed information covered later in
antibiotics in patient blood. the program.

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culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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SODIUM POLYANETHOL SPS

SULFONATE
SPECIMEN REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLEBLOOD
WHOLE BLOOD Needs to be sterile.
Minimized chance of contamination
DEPARTMENT if collected first.
MICROBIOLOGY

COMMON TESTS
HOW IT WORKS
Binds calcium.
BLOOD CULTURE
Reduces complement.
Slows down phagocytosis.

MIXING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Requires immediate mixing.
8–10 gentle inversions. Rarely used.
Alternate collection method for blood
culture bottles.
Needs to be transfered to blood
culture bottle.

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culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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Light
SODIUM Blue

CITRATE
SPECIMEN
CENTRIFUGE FOR
REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE
PLASMA BLOOD Before all other additive tubes because all
other additives affect coagulation.
DEPARTMENT
COAGULATION
SECTION OF HEMATOLOGY
HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS Removes calcium by binding or chelating
COAGULATION TESTS: so blood cannot clot.
PT/PTT Best for preserving clotting factors.

MIXING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Requires immediate mixing.
3–4 gentle inversions. 1 : 9 ratio of blood to anticoagulant

CRITICAL
Must be filled to at least 90%

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blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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PLAIN SERUM Plain

TUBE
SPECIMEN
CLOT & CENTRIFUGE
REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE BLOOD
FOR SERUM After coagulation tubes so it does not
affect coagulation test results.
DEPARTMENT
CHEMISTRY
HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS Silica (silicone) can activate clotting.
DRUG TESTING & Speeds up clotting by activating platelets.
MOST ROUTINE
CHEMISTRY TESTS

MIXING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Requires mixing if clot
activator in tubes.
Serum must be removed from cells after
centrifugation to prevent the cells from
metabolizing substances such as glucose
in the serum.
Some glass tubes may not contain silica.

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culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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4
SERUM SEPARATOR SST

TUBE (SST)
SPECIMEN
CLOT & CENTRIFUGE
REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE BLOOD
FOR SERUM After coagulation tubes so it does not
affect coagulation test results.
DEPARTMENT
CHEMISTRY
HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS Speeds up clotting by activating platelets.
Gel separator forms a physical barrier
MOST
between cells and serum to stop
metabolizing substances such as glucose.

MIXING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

5 inversions to mix in
clot activator. Blood will clot without mixing, but if tube
is not mixed, silica particles can stay in
serum and affect testing.
Gel separator can affect some tests,
like drug testing.

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culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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PLASMA PST

SEPARATOR TUBE (PST)

SPECIMEN
CENTRIFUGE FOR
REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE
PLASMA BLOOD Can affect serum tubes, specimens so
collect after serum.
DEPARTMENT
CHEMISTRY
HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS Inhibits thrombin.
STAT CHEMISTRY Gel separator forms a physical barrier
TESTS between cells and plasma to stop
metobolizing substances such as glucose.

MIXING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Requires immediate mixing.
3–4 gentle inversions.
Used for STAT tests.
No clotting time required.

ORDER OF DRAW
Stop Light Red Stay Put Green LEts Go
culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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HEPARIN TUBE Heparin

SPECIMEN
CENTRIFUGE FOR PLASMA
REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE BLOOD
SOME WHOLE BLOOD TESTS Can affect serum tubes, specimens so
collect after serum.
DEPARTMENT
CHEMISTRY
HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS
Inhibits thrombin.
STAT CHEMISTRY TEST
MOST ROUTINE
CHEMISTRY TESTS

MIXING
Requires immediate mixing. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
3–4 gentle inversions.
Used for STAT tests.
No clotting time required.
Plasma must be removed from cells after
centrifugation to prevent the cells from
metabolizing substances such as glucose.

ORDER OF DRAW
Stop Light Red Stay Put Green LEts Go
culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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EDTA EDTA

SPECIMEN
WHOLE BLOOD
REASON FOR ORDER
WHOLE BLOOD Responsible for more carry over problems
DEPARTMENT than any other additive.
HEMATOLOGY
TRANSFUSION
SERVICES HOW IT WORKS
Removes calcium by binding or
COMMON TESTS chelating so that blood cannot clot.
CBC
CROSSMATCH

MIXING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Must be mixed after collection
to prevent platelet clumps
Liquid EDTA can cause dilution so filling
and micro clots.
tube is important.
8–10 inversions recommended.

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culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY
 MDLB 1321
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POTASSIUM OXALATE & Grey

SODIUM FLORIDE
SPECIMEN
CENTRIFUGE FOR
REASON FOR ORDER
PLASMA Can affect chemistry and hematology
tests so it is collected last.
DEPARTMENT
CHEMISTRY
HOW IT WORKS
COMMON TESTS Removes calcium by making a salt.
GLUCOSE Antiglycolytic agent preserves glucose.
ALCOHOL

MIXING
Requires immediate mixing.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
8–10 gentle inversions.
Not a common tube.
Plasma must be removed from cells after
centrifugation to prevent the cells from
metabolizing substances such as glucose.

ORDER OF DRAW
Stop Light Red Stay Put Green LEts Go
culture
bottle

blood culture SPS LT. BLUE PLAIN SST PST HEPARIN EDTA GREY