Question

What is the importance of inverting the colored top tubes after drawing blood?

Answer 1

ANSWER

Order of Draw of Blood Collection Tubes

All plastic tubes must be gently inverted 5-10 times to provide thorough mixing of the additives. Shaking the tube may cause hemolysis of the blood.

IMPORTANCE OF IINVERTING THE COLORED TOP TUBE AFTER DWAWING BLOOD

After the tube has been filled with blood, immediately invert the tube 8-10 times to mix and ensure adequate anticoagulation of the specimen.To avoid RBC shrinkage due to excess EDTA (with resulting changes in HCT and RBC indices values) and possible dilutional effect, the tubes should be filled with the proper amount of blood for the size of tube used. Tubes with various draw volumes are available (2.0 mL, 3.0 mL, 5.0 mL and 0.75 mL microvettes); to assure proper ratio of EDTA to blood, it is recommended that the tubes contain no less than one-half of the stated volume.

The order of draw is recommended for both glass and plastic venous collections tubes when drawing multiple specimens for medical laboratory testing during a single venipuncture. The purpose is to avoid possible test result error due to additive carryover. All additive tubes should be filled to their stated volumes.

EDTA TUBE USED FOR

Lavender-top tube (EDTA): Tube contains EDTA as an anticoagulant. This tube is used for preparing EDTA plasma, whole blood, and bone marrow specimens. Note: Tube should be inverted several times immediately after blood collection to prevent coagulation

MEAN OF INVERTED DOWN

All tubes (except red top tubes which contain no additives) must be gently inverted 5 to 8 times immediately after filling, to ensure proper mixing of blood and anticoagulant, or other additives.

INVERTED TUBE IMPORTANCE

When collecting blood samples, allow the tube to fill completely to ensure the blood/additive ratio necessary for accurate results. Gently invert each tube the required number of times immediately after collection to adequately mix the blood and additive. Never pour blood from one tube into another tube.