The types of blood collection tubes can usually be distinguished by the color of the tube caps

Color coding is widely used in the field of safety medical supplies.

According to the classification of tube cap colors, the corresponding purpose of the blood sample collected by the color-coded tube, along with the use of blood tube holders, is different, and the additives in the tube are also different.

Generally, tube cap colors are marked based on universal international standards, so that hospitals can use consistent tube cap color markings and there will be no errors in the transport and examination of blood samples between different hospitals.

Blood collection tubes are classified according to different experimental requirements

• Ordinary dry tubes. Without anti-coagulant or pro-coagulant, the blood will clot and separate serum on its own, generally used for biochemical testing.

• Pro-coagulant tubes. The tube contains coagulant substance, which can make the blood coagulate and separate serum faster. It is suitable for emergency rapid detection of biochemical projects.

• Separating gel additive pro-coagulant tubes. Not only can separate serum be coagulated and separated more quickly, but the separating gel can also separate serum and blood cells. It is suitable for emergency rapid detection and can also be tested for a long time.

• EDTA anticoagulant tubes. It can maintain the shape of blood cells better and is suitable for routine blood testing, such as blood cell counting and classification.

• Sodium citrate anticoagulant tubes. Sodium citrate anticoagulant tubes are suitable for separating plasma for coagulation function tests.

• Heparin anticoagulant tubes. It can be used to separate blood cells and plasma. If plasma is needed for biochemical projects, it can be centrifuged and separated immediately after blood collection to achieve faster detection. Separated blood cells can be used for experiments such as T lymphocyte subgroups.

• Other special anticoagulants or additive tubes. For example, tubes with trypsin inhibitor added are used for the detection of small peptide hormones, and tubes with sodium fluoride added can inhibit glucose breakdown for blood glucose testing, etc.

In recent years, as the automation and modernization of laboratory equipment and the improvement of quality management and personnel quality, there have been fewer quality problems in laboratory analysis and after analysis, while quality problems before analysis have increased significantly. Blood sample collection, including the use of disposable blood collection needle, is the most important and most abundant work in specimen collection for laboratory testing, which significantly affects the test results. The quality of vacuum blood collection tubes is also a major and important part of quality control in blood sample collection.