Sections View Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Annotate Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Supplementary Content + Download Section PDF ++ Source: Chapter adapted and updated, with permission, from Nicoll D et al. Guide to Diagnostic Tests, 7th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2017. ++Table Graphic Jump LocationTable e7–3.Commonly used blood specimen collection tubes.View Table||Download (.pdf) Table e7–3. Commonly used blood specimen collection tubes. Tube Tube Contents Typical Use Lavender or Pink K2EDTA CBC (whole blood); blood banking (plasma); molecular testing (cell-based); flow cytometry (immunophenotyping) Gold SST Clot activator and gel for serum separation Serum chemistry tests White PPT K2EDTA and gel for plasma separation Molecular testing (plasma-based) Plain red None Blood banking (serum); therapeutic drug monitoring Blue Sodium citrate Coagulation studies Gray Inhibitor of glycolysis (sodium fluoride) Lactic acid; glucose Green PPT, Light green PPT Sodium heparin or lithium heparin (green PPT, without gel; light green PPT, with gel for plasma separation) Plasma chemistry tests (light green PPT); chromosome analysis (sodium heparin) (green PPT) Yellow ACD (acid citrate dextrose) ACD: HLA typing; blood banking (plasma); flow cytometry (immunophenotyping) SPS (sodium polyanethol sulfonate) SPS: Blood culture (microbiology) Dark navy blue Clot activator (trace metal free) Trace metals (eg, lead, mercury, arsenic) Orange RST Thrombin and gel for serum separation Serum chemistry tests Black Sodium citrate ESR (with sodium citrate) None (plain, sterile black screw top) Body fluids for microbiology (plain, sterile black screw top) ACD, acid citrate dextrose; EDTA, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid; HLA, human leukocyte antigen; PPT, plasma preparation tube; RST, rapid serum tube; SPS, sodium polyanethol sulfonate; SST, serum separator tube.