What color are blood collection tubes that contain heparin?

Study for the VTNE Laboratory Procedures Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations, enabling increased understanding and retention. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What color are blood collection tubes that contain heparin?

Explanation:
In blood collection tubes, the color of the stopper identifies the anticoagulant inside. Heparin tubes have a green stopper, typically containing sodium heparin or lithium heparin. Heparin prevents clotting by enhancing antithrombin III, which inhibits thrombin and factor Xa, so the blood remains as plasma. These tubes are commonly used when plasma chemistry tests are needed. For context, purple (or lavender) tops use EDTA for CBCs, blue tops use sodium citrate for coagulation studies, and gray tops use fluoride/oxalate for glucose testing. So, the color indicating a tube with heparin is green.

In blood collection tubes, the color of the stopper identifies the anticoagulant inside. Heparin tubes have a green stopper, typically containing sodium heparin or lithium heparin. Heparin prevents clotting by enhancing antithrombin III, which inhibits thrombin and factor Xa, so the blood remains as plasma. These tubes are commonly used when plasma chemistry tests are needed. For context, purple (or lavender) tops use EDTA for CBCs, blue tops use sodium citrate for coagulation studies, and gray tops use fluoride/oxalate for glucose testing. So, the color indicating a tube with heparin is green.

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