Which color combination represents blood collection tubes that contain heparin?

Which color combination represents blood collection tubes that contain heparin?

• A. Green and tan
• B. Blue and White
• C. Red and Yellow
• D. Purple and Pink

Answer: (D)

Tubes containing heparin are identified by the green color on the stopper, since heparin is the anticoagulant used to obtain plasma for chemistry testing. The purple or pink tops indicate EDTA, not heparin, while blue tops are citrate and red or yellow tops relate to other additives or no additive. So the color combination that includes green points to heparin-containing tubes, making that option the best choice. The green/top tubes are used when you need plasma for chemical analyses, not for complete blood counts (which use purple EDTA) or coagulation studies (which use blue citrate).

Tubes containing heparin are identified by the green color on the stopper, since heparin is the anticoagulant used to obtain plasma for chemistry testing. The purple or pink tops indicate EDTA, not heparin, while blue tops are citrate and red or yellow tops relate to other additives or no additive. So the color combination that includes green points to heparin-containing tubes, making that option the best choice. The green/top tubes are used when you need plasma for chemical analyses, not for complete blood counts (which use purple EDTA) or coagulation studies (which use blue citrate).