Mix all tubes ten times by gentle inversion immediately after collection.
| COLOR | DRAW/MINIMUM VOLUME | ADDITIVE | INSTRUCTIONS |
| Blue
Blue-pediatric Blue-infant (Tubes must be filled to 80-100% capacity) | 4 mL (2.7 mL capacity)
1.8 mL For smaller volumes or for patients with a hematocrit greater than 55% call Coag x86939. | Sodium citrate | All blue top tubes collected for coagulation assays which do not have a blood culture collected first must have a discard tube collected prior to filling. Discard tube should be another blue top tube in which greater than 1 mL of blood is collected.
Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. Deliver to lab immediately. If unable to deliver within 1 hour, centrifuge. Separate plasma to plastic capped tube. Refrigerate plasma up to 4 hours. Freeze if greater than 4 hours. |
| Green | 7 mL (6 mL capacity) | Sodium heparin | Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. See specific instructions for test. |
| Purple
Purple microtainer- infant | 5 mL (4 mL capacity)
0.6 mL | K2EDTA | Fill tube completely for PCR testing and at least 1/2 full for Hematology testing. Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. |
| Pink | 6 mL/2.5 mL
2.0mL/1.0mL | EDTA | Fill tube at least 1/2 full. Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. For Transfusion Service testing, refer to UCH Procedure “Administration of Blood Components” for patient and specimen identification policies. |
| Green with Gel Separator (PST) | 7 mL (4.5 mL capacity) | Lithium heparin and an inert plasma separator. | Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. |
| Red | 7 mL (6 mL capacity) | None | Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. Allow blood to clot in an upright position. If unable to deliver to lab within 2 hours, centrifuge. See specific test instructions for refrigerating or freezing instructions. |
| Pearl (PPT) | 5 mL | K2EDTA
and an inert plasma separator. | Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. |
| Gold or Red with Gel Separator (SST) | 7 mL (5 mL capacity) | Inert serum separator | Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. |
| White | No additives; sterile. | Immediately after collection gently invert 10 times end-to-end. |