Order of Draw and Additives | Blood Collection

Summary

A comprehensive guide to the proper order of draw in phlebotomy, explaining why specific tube sequences are necessary to prevent cross-contamination and ensure accurate lab results.

Highlights

Introduction and Importance of Order of Draw00:00:14

An overview of why following the correct blood tube order is crucial to prevent additive cross-contamination, which can lead to inaccurate test results and patient misdiagnosis.

Blood Culture Bottles00:03:24

Blood cultures must be drawn first as a sterile collection to prevent contamination. The process involves using aerobic and anaerobic bottles containing nutrient broth and anticoagulants.

Coagulation and Chemistry Tubes00:06:14

Explanation of light blue tubes (coagulation/sodium citrate), red tubes (serum), gold/SST tubes (serum separator/gel), and green tubes (chemistry/heparin), highlighting the importance of proper filling ratios.

Hematology and Specialized Tubes00:12:55

Details on purple tubes (hematology/EDTA), pink tubes (blood banking), and gray tubes (glucose/lactate/ethanol). EDTA-containing tubes require careful handling to avoid skewing electrolyte levels.

The Full Sequence and Mnemonic00:17:47

A summary of the order: Blood Cultures, Light Blue, Red, Gold/SST, Green, Purple, Pink, and Gray. The mnemonic 'Stoplight Red, Stay Green, Power Light Go' is provided to aid memorization.