This document provides instructions for drawing blood samples in the proper order to avoid cross-contamination. It lists the order as: blood culture, light blue vacutainer, black, red, golden, green, lavender, yellow, and grey. Each tube type is used for specific tests and contains different additives to preserve samples. The order of draw is important to maintain the integrity of test results.

1. ORDER OF DRAW
1. BLOOD CULTURE
2. LIGHT BLUE VACUTAINER
3. BLACK
4. RED
5. GOLDEN
6. GREEN
7. LAVENDER
8. YELLOW
9. GREY
Blood samples should be drawn in the following order to avoid cross contamination
of additives between the tubes.

2. BLOOD CULTURE BOTTLE
USES : Culture
First take Aerobic , later on Anerobic culture
Adults : 8-10 ml
Pediatrics : 1-3 ml

3. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : SKY BLUE
USES :
Used in coagulation studies ,
PT, APTT
INR
D-Dimer
Fibrinogen
Platelet function
It contains SODIUM CITRATE
Ratio = 1:9

4. fill blood sample up to the
marking,
Achieve a ratio of 1:9
3-4 inversions

5. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : BLACK
USES :
ESR (Westergren’s method)
It contains SODIUM CITRATE
Ratio = 1:4

6. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : RED
USES :
SEROLOGY
INDIRECT COOMB’S TEST
Powdered glass ( contact clot activator)
Note : transport @ 37 degree celcius , if suspecting AIHA ,
5-6 inversions

7. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : GOLDEN
USES :
CHEMISTRY, IMMUNOLOGY,
IRON, VITAMIN B12, folate
studies
Bacterial / viral serology
( polymer gel with powdered glass)
6 inversions required

8. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : GREEN
USES :
Arterial blood gas(ABG) Analysis,
Lithium levels
Electrolytes estimation
Osmotic fragility
(Na / Li heparin)
8-10 inversions required

9. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : LEVANDER
USES :
HEMATOLOGY,
CBC, Hb, HBA1C,
Retic count
Blood grouping, Rh typing
TLC, DLC, ESR
Lymphocytic markers, malarial Ag, FISH
( EDTA)
Adult : 4 ml , pediatric : 2 ml
8-10 inversions

10. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : YELLOW
USES :
HLA Typing
Paternity testing
DNA studies
( acid-citrate-dextrose)

11. VACUTAINER TUBE
 CAP COLOR : GREY
USES :
Blood glucose analysis
Alcohol , lactate analysis
(Na fluoride /K+ oxalate)

12. Cap color Uses Special points
Sky blue (Na-CITRATE 1:9) PT, INR, APTT, D- DIMER, FIBRINOGEN,
PLATELET FUNCTION
3-4 INVERSIONS
Black (Na citrate 1:4) ESR (Westergren’s)
Red (clot activator) Serology, indirect coomb’s test Transport @ 37˚ C for AIHA,
5-6 inversions
Golden (polymer gel with powdered
glass)
Chemistry, immunology, iron,vitamin b12,
folate study, bacterial/viral serology
6 inversions
Green ( Na /Li heparin) ABG analysis, lithium levels, electrolytes
estimation
8-10 inversions
Levander (EDTA) CBC, Hb, blood group , HBA1C , TLC,DLC,
ESR, Retic count, lymphocytic markers,PTH
Adults : 4 ml,
Pediatrics : 2 ml
8-10 inversions
Yellow (ACD) HLA typing, paternity testing, DNA studies
Grey (Na Flouride/ K+ oxalate) Blood glucose estimation ,
Alcohol, lactate analysis
SUMMARY :