What is the Role of Blood Collection Tube Additives in a Pathology Lab?

None can deny the importance of pathology laboratories in the field of healthcare. These labs are home to several techniques and equipment used to uncover crucial insights into the human body. One such piece of medical equipment is blood collection tubes which are absolutely necessary for accurate diagnosis.

However, not many know that additives play a crucial role in preserving blood samples, enabling professionals to extract the required information. Additives are generally anticoagulants that keep blood from clotting or coagulating agents that encourage clotting. In this article, we will explore the utility of additives in the 3ml to 10ml blood collection tubes. So, let’s begin!

Heparin with Lithium, Sodium or Aluminium

Heparin, the anticoagulant here, is used with sodium, lithium, or aluminium metal conjugate for several biochemistry tests like drugs, hormones, insulin, cholesterol, and more.

The blood collection tube with heparin additive is generally green in color and is commonly found in laboratories conducting tests concerning metabolism. This agent reacts with prothrombin and thrombin, the coagulation factors, to prevent blood clotting.

Clot Gel or Activator

Commonly used in diagnostic centers, clot activators or gel help with the separation of plasma and serum after centrifugation. This additive is usually present in the gold or red collection tube wherein particles of silica gel isolate the serum. It is used in pathology laboratories for several experiments and tests, including drug, serological, and antibody testing.

Potassium EDTA

This anticoagulant binds with the calcium ions in the bloodstream, thereby preventing the clot. As a result, the professional can use whole blood samples to conduct the necessary hematological examinations.

The lavender blood collection tubes consisting of potassium EDTA are mostly used to diagnose cell defects or count-related issues like sickle cell anemia and malaria. In addition, these tubes are utilized for multiple virological experiments and are commonly found in laboratories dealing with viruses and diseases.

Acid Citrate Dextrose and SPS

In general, yellow blood collection tubes contain anticoagulants acid citrate dextrose and sodium polyanethole sulfonate (SPS), which are widely used for identifying bacterial infections. When mixed with bloody fluids or blood, these additives stabilize bacterial growth, preventing the clot.

SPS, in particular, hinders antibiotic actions, phagocytosis, and immune complement activation, ultimately helping the micro-organism's recovery. These additives are mostly used while working with RNA, DNA, or more.

Potassium/Sodium Oxalate and Sodium Fluoride

Grey blood collection tubes usually contain potassium/sodium oxalate and sodium fluoride as additives and are commonly found in laboratories working with cholesterol, blood glucose levels, etc. Sodium fluoride, an antiglycolytic agent, works by hindering glycolysis, which restricts the glucose breakdown in the sample. As a result, the examiner can determine the blood alcohol and glucose level in the sample.

On the contrary, potassium/sodium oxalate comes in contact with calcium ions to prevent blood clotting. Hence, examiners can use whole blood for testing. Therefore, you will find a grey blood collection tube in laboratories where tests concerning blood alcohol, lactic acid, blood glucose, or lactose intolerance are conducted.

Sodium EDTA and Sodium Heparin

This additive is rarely used, and the use case is mostly limited to identifying the presence of metals such as lead, zinc, mercury, and more in the bloodstream. Sodium heparin and sodium EDTA are usually present in the royal blue blood collection tube and restrict the functioning of thrombin, thereby preventing blood clotting.

Wrapping Up

Blood collection tube additives fulfill several purposes, like preserving blood samples, preventing coagulation, and enabling accurate diagnosis, which is why they are crucial for the smooth operations of pathology laboratories.

However, it is important to consider the reliability and quality of blood collection tubes for the best results. For that, it is essential to choose a blood collection tubes supplier carefully. Make sure to look for the seller’s track record, certifications, customer reviews, price point, customer support, and delivery facility before purchasing the tubes.