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Supplies provided includes:

Anaerobe Collectors:

Glass tubes containing swabs.  Used in the collection of anaerobic specimens.

Copan Double-Swab Culturettes:

Used for MRSA PCR.

Formalin:

Used to preserve tissue.

Mini Tip Culturettes:

Used for urethral, nasal passages and eyes.

Needles:

21 gauge—Used primarily for large antecubital veins.

22 gauge—Used primarily for medium antecubital, forearm, hand and foot veins.

23 gauge—used for smaller antecubitals, medium size forearm, hand and foot veins.

25 gauge—Used only for the smallest veins, usually in the forearm, hand and foot.

Ova and Parasite Vials:

2 plastic vials containing PVA and formalin preservatives.  Used for Ova and Parasite.

Preservative Solution & Plastic Spatulas and Brooms:

Used only for the SurePath Pap Test.

Regular Culturette:

Sterile swab in transport media.  Used for routine aerobic cultures of all sites.

Slide Holders:

Provides a safe transport for glass slides.

Spraycyte:

Used as a fixative for cytology smears.

Sterile Containers:

Plastic wide mouthed sterile containers.  Used for cultures.

Stool Culture and Sensitivity (Cary Blair) Medium:

Transport vial. Used for stool cultures.

Vacutainer Sleeves:

Used to hold needle and vacuum tube while collecting specimens.


Vacutainer Tubes:

Blue Top:

Stopper color:  Blue
Volumes:  1.8mL, 2.7mL, and 4.5mL
Additives/Anticoagulant:  Buffered sodium citrate
Anticoagulant method of action:  A chelating agent that binds calcium, forming insoluble calcium salts.
Tube purposes:
Used for all coagulation determinations and factor assays.
Used for platelet counts when EDTA platelet results display clumping.
Pseudonyms:  Blue top, citrate tube, coag tube

NOTE:  MUST be at least 90% full.  Under filled specimens will result in specimen rejection.

Serum Separator Tube (SST):

Stopper color: Red/Gray speckled

Volumes: 8.5mL

Additives/Anticoagulant:

Polymer Gel:  Upon centrifugation, this gelatin forms a barrier between the cell and serum layers, thus making it easier pour off and reducing reactivity between cell and serum components.

Spray dried silica activator:  Increases the speed of clot formation.

Anticoagulant method of action: Does not contain an anticoagulant.

Tube purposes:

With only a few exceptions, can be used whenever serum is required for testing.

Therapeutic drug levels CANNOT be collected in this tube, the gel will absorb the therapeutic drug being tested resulting in erroneous values.

Pseudonyms:  Tiger top, SST, gel barrier tube, speckled top, and camouflaged tube

Plain Red Top:

Stopper color: Red

Volumes: 4mL, 5mL, 10mL

Additives/Anticoagulant: Glass – Silicone-coated,  Plastic - Spray dried silica activator:  Increases the speed of clot formation.

Anticoagulant method of action: Does not contain an anticoagulant.

Tube purposes:

General serum studies.

Must be used for therapeutic drug levels.

Pseudonyms: Plain red top, serum tube

Green Top:

Stopper color: Dark green, mint green

Volumes: 3mL, 4.5mL,10mL

Additives/Anticoagulant: Lithium heparin, sodium heparin

Anticoagulant method of action: Inactivates thrombin and thromboplastin.

Tube purposes:

Lithium: STAT chemistry determinations where normal routine serum would be used.  Plasma speeds up TAT for STAT tests.

Sodium:  Chromosome analysis, flow cytometry and tissue typing.

Pseudonyms: PST, heparin tube, send out green

Lavender Top:

Stopper color: lavender, purple

Volumes: 3mL, 4mL

Additives/Anticoagulant:  K2EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetate)

Anticoagulant method of action: A chelating agent that binds calcium, forming insoluble calcium salts.

Tube purposes:

Platelet counts and platelet function studies due to EDTA’s ability to inhibit platelet aggregation.

Complete Blood Counts (CBC) and preparation of blood films for cell differentiation.

Miscellaneous testing:

Cyclosporine levels (FK506)

Hemoglobin A1C (glycol hemoglobin)

Viral load studies

Sickle cell testing

Sedimentation rates (WSR,ESR)

Ammonia levels

Pseudonyms:  Lavender top, purple top, EDTA tube

Pink top:

Stopper color: Pink

Volumes: 6mL

Additives/Anticoagulant:  K2 EDTA

Anticoagulant method of action:  N/A

Tube purposes:

All blood bank specimens
Type & Crossmatch
ABO group and type
Kleinhauer testing

Pseudonyms: Pink top, blood bank tube

Pearl White:

Stopper color: Pearl

Volumes: 5mL

Additives/Anticoagulant: K2 EDTA

Anticoagulant method of action: A chelating agent that binds calcium, forming insoluble calcium salts.

Tube purposes:

Molecular diagnostic testing
HIV B DNA

Pseudonyms: PPT – plasma preparation tube, pearl EDTA

Grey top:

Stopper color: Grey

Volumes: 5mL

Additives/Anticoagulant:  Sodium Fluoride/Potassium Oxylate

Anticoagulant method of action:  Prevents cells from metabolizing sugars (glucose and insulin’s)

Tube purposes:

Glucose determinations
Lactic acid determinations
Blood alcohol levels

Pseudonyms: Grey top, fluoride tube

Yellow top:

Stopper color: Yellow

Volumes: 6mL

Additives/Anticoagulant: ACD Solution B – Acid Citrate Dextrose

Anticoagulant method of action: N/A

Tube purposes:

HLA phenotyping, DNA and Paternity testing

Pseudonyms: ACD tube

Royal Blue:

Stopper color: Royal/Dark blue

Volumes: 6mL, 7mL

Additives/Anticoagulant: EDTA (Na2), Trace element (no additive)

Anticoagulant method of action: N/A

Viral Transport Medium:

Plastic centrifuge tube with media. Used for the transport of tissues, aspirates for viral cultures.