What tubes are in a rainbow draw?
What tubes are in a rainbow draw?
Clinical laboratories often receive extra blood tubes beyond what is needed for associated laboratory test orders. Sometimes, this practice involves drawing tubes of every possible color (the “rainbow”) to allow for add-on testing at a later time.
What is Rainbow lab draw?
The practice of collecting extra blood tubes at the time of initial phlebotomy, often referred to as a “rainbow draw” (because of the various colors of tube stoppers) is a common but controversial procedure in many emergency departments (EDs)3.
What color tubes are used for which tests in phlebotomy?
Tubes with a red stopper are used to collect serum to test for routine donor screening or infectious disease. It contains a clot activator. Tubes with orange or gray/yellow tops are used to test serum that is needed right away.
What are the different blood draw tubes?
Blood Collection Tubes
| Tube cap color | Additive |
|---|---|
| Red or gold (mottled or “tiger” top used with some tubes is not shown) | Serum tube with or without clot activator or gel |
| Green | Sodium or lithium heparin with or without gel |
| Lavender or pink | Potassium EDTA |
| Gray | Sodium fluoride, and sodium or potassium oxalate |
What is a blue top tube used for in phlebotomy?
2. Blue Top – Tube contains Sodium Citrate. Most often used for coagulation studies. Must be drawn prior to collection of serum tubes to prevent contamination with clot activator and interference with coagulation cascade.
What is a rainbow panel blood test?
There is a perception that ED patients will typically require additional or follow-up testing, so drawing these extra tubes prevents the need for a second blood draw. Thus, when laboratory phlebotomists receive an order for testing, they end up drawing a rainbow of extra colored tubes during the initial blood draw.
What color tube would you use to collect a CBC?
Lavender top tube
Lavender top tube – EDTA EDTA is the anticoagulant used for most hematology procedures. Its primary use is for the CBC and individual components of the CBC.
How to draw the Order of phlebotomy tubes?
Draw Royal Blue top tubes in the order indicated by the additive. 7 mL (No additive) – Red strip on label – Draw as #4 6 mL (K2-EDTA) – Blue strip on label – Draw as #7
How are the needles connected in a phlebotomy?
A tube extends from the needle down to a tube holder where the phlebotomist connects the collection tube. Straight needles vary in size and are often connected to a plastic tube holder. After insertion in the vein, the needle will be held still by the phlebotomist while the collection tubes are switched in and out in the tube holder.
How are lavender tubes used in a phlebotomy?
A phlebotomist will select the tube depending on the type of test that is ordered for the patient. Additives in the tubes are essential for the type of test for which the blood is collected. For example, lavender tubes contain an additive that helps the blood coagulate and is used for specimen collection specific for hematology procedures.
How does the vacuum work in a phlebotomy?
When the phlebotomist inserts a needle in the tube the vacuum pulls the blood from the vein into the tube. At times, a tube will malfunction requiring the phlebotomist to reach for another one to complete the blood collection. For this reason, the phlebotomist should keep extra tubes within reach so that the procedure can continue.
Draw Royal Blue top tubes in the order indicated by the additive. 7 mL (No additive) – Red strip on label – Draw as #4 6 mL (K2-EDTA) – Blue strip on label – Draw as #7
What kind of blood collection tubes are used?
Blood collection tubes must be filled in a specific order to avoid specimen contamination from the additive in the preceding tube. The following order of draw is an accepted laboratory standard. 1. Tubes or bottles for blood cultures 2. Light-blue top tubes (sodium citrate) 3. Serum tubes (with or without clot activator) 4.
What is the yellow top of a phlebotomy tube used for?
Phlebotomy Tubes Explained. Yellow top tube contains sodium polyanethol sulfonate and is used for blood culture specimens or acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD solution A or ACD Solution B). The same tubes are used for HLA phenotyping and for conducting parental tests.
How much blood is in a rainbow draw?
The standard rainbow draw included 2 serum tubes [5.0 mL of rapid serum (RST) and 8.5 mL of serum separator (SST)], 4.0 mL of EDTA whole blood for hematology, 2.7 mL of sodium citrate plasma for coagulation studies, and 4.0 mL of fluoride/oxalate plasma for lactate, for a total of 24.2 mL of blood per collection.