Blood collection is an essential part of medical diagnosis and proper selection and use of blood collection tube (BCT) is crucial for accurate results.
There are two main types of BCTs used in clinical laboratories for in-vitro analysis of blood samples - serum and plasma.
BCTs are air-tight, color-coded, and come in plastic or glass materials. Color of BCT determines the type of additives added in the tubes.
Minimum amount of blood required for each test should be checked with the laboratory.
BCT components include tube wall, rubber stopper, stopper lubricant, and tube surfactant. Different color caps can also contain separating gel, anticoagulants, and clot activator particles.
Understanding the components and characteristics of BCT can help ensure the accuracy of laboratory results and prevent any contamination of the blood sample.
The proper selection and use of BCT is crucial for accurate results in medical diagnosis. BCT components include the tube wall, rubber stopper, stopper lubricant, and tube surfactant, and different color caps can also contain separating gel, anticoagulants, and clot activator particles.