Tareq Abadl/LinkedIn
Oct 16, 2026, 09:59
Tareq Abadl: A Simple Guide to Blood Collection Tubes
Tareq Abadl, Medical Lab Specialist, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Anticoagulants in the lab – A quick comparison guide.
The right tube. The right specimen. Reliable results!
Choosing the correct blood collection tube is more than a routine step.
The wrong tube or an incorrect collection technique can interfere with test results and compromise laboratory accuracy.
Let’s compare four essential blood collection tubes:
EDTA — Lavender/Purple Top
- Primarily used for CBC and other hematology tests.
- EDTA contamination can cause falsely elevated potassium and falsely decreased calcium.
HEPARIN — Green Top
- Commonly used for plasma chemistry testing, depending on the assay.
- Lithium-heparin tubes are unsuitable for measuring lithium.
SODIUM CITRATE — Light Blue Top
- Used for coagulation tests such as PT/INR and aPTT.
- Underfilling the tube can alter the blood-to-anticoagulant ratio and affect coagulation results.
FLUORIDE/OXALATE — Gray Top
- Commonly used for glucose testing with methods validated for this specimen.
- Incorrect specimen handling can affect glucose measurements.
Don’t forget these collection rules!
- Choose the correct tube for the requested test.
- Fill tubes to the required volume, especially citrate tubes.
- Mix gently according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Avoid vigorous shaking to reduce the risk of hemolysis.
- Follow the correct order of draw to minimize additive carryover.
Laboratory Pearl: A reliable result starts before the sample reaches the analyzer!”
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