In SPS tubes, which laboratory test is performed on blood cultures?

In SPS tubes, which laboratory test is performed on blood cultures?

• A. Blood culture
• B. HLA typing
• C. ABO typing
• D. Coagulation studies

Answer: (A)

SPS tubes are used specifically for collecting samples to perform blood cultures. The key idea is that these tubes contain an anticoagulant that keeps the blood from clotting and preserves any microorganisms present, so the sample can be incubated on culture media to detect bacteremia or fungemia. HLA typing and ABO typing are immunohematology tests that require different procedures and sample types, not blood cultures. Coagulation studies need plasma obtained from citrate tubes and are about clotting factors, not growing organisms. So the test performed on blood collected in SPS tubes is a blood culture.

SPS tubes are used specifically for collecting samples to perform blood cultures. The key idea is that these tubes contain an anticoagulant that keeps the blood from clotting and preserves any microorganisms present, so the sample can be incubated on culture media to detect bacteremia or fungemia. HLA typing and ABO typing are immunohematology tests that require different procedures and sample types, not blood cultures. Coagulation studies need plasma obtained from citrate tubes and are about clotting factors, not growing organisms. So the test performed on blood collected in SPS tubes is a blood culture.