Dela Cruz, Albert Bryan R.

BSMT - 1 | February 5, 2022

Principles in Medical Laboratory Science Practice 2 (MED 2)

Lecture Activity 6
Anticoagulants Used in Clinical Laboratory

Instruction: List down ALL the anticoagulants used in the laboratory. Check the book
for guidance. Table the following according to: color of tube, content/component
present, function, and test used.

CONTENT OR
COLOR COMPONENT FUNCTION TEST USED
PRESENT
Prevents calcium in the Hematology
Purple EDTA
coagulation cascade (CBC)
Potassium EDTA Forms calcium salts to prevent
Pink Blood banking
(K2EDTA) clotting
Molecular
Potassium EDTA
Forms calcium salts to prevent diagnostics (PCR
White (K2EDTA) and
clotting and bDNA
separation gel
testing)
Forms calcium salts to remove Coagulation tests
Light blue Sodium citrate
calcium (binds calcium) (PTT)
Westergren
Buffered sodium Forms calcium salts to remove
Black sedimentation
citrate calcium (binds calcium)
rates
Heparin (sodium, Inhibits thrombin and Chemistry tests
Green lithium or thromboplastin in the (stat tests or fast
ammonium) coagulation cascade TAT tests)
Light Lithium heparin Used for plasma determinations
Chemistry
green with PST gel and prevents potassium release
Sodium fluoride Maintains glucose stability and Chemistry
Gray and potassium binds calcium to prevent glucose tests,
oxalate clotting serum testing
Trace elements
Royal Tube is designed to contain
EDTA testing and
blue lowest possible levels of metal
toxicology
Tan/light Potassium EDTA Certified to contain less than 0.1 Serum lead
brown (K2EDTA) μg/mL of lead determinations
HLA
Acid citrate Complement inactivation (binds phenotyping,
Yellow
dextrose (ACD) calcium and preserves RBCs) paternity & DNA
testing
Thrombin, STAT serum
Orange Quickly clots blood
separation gel chemistry
Serology &
Clots blood, serum is separated serum chemistry,
Red None
through centrifugation blood bank
(crossmatching)
 Sodium citrate,
Whole blood
Light polyester gel, Separates mononuclear cells
molecular
blue/black density gradient into the whole blood
diagnostics
liquid
Sodium heparin,
Whole blood
polyester gel, Used when heparinized blood is
Red/green molecular
density gradient needed for testing methodology
diagnostics
liquid
Yellow or
STAT serum
gray and Thrombin Quickly clots blood
chemistry
orange
Clot activator Increases platelet activation to
Red/gray
(silica) and shorten time required form clot Chemistry
and Gold
separator gel forming
Red/light Used as discard tubes
gray and None Discard tubes
clear

DELA CRUZ, ALBERT BRYAN R.