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Blood Collection Equipment and Supplies Flashcards

7 cards from real Phlebotomy Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Blood Collection Equipment and Supplies flashcards as text

  1. What additive is found in light blue top tubes and what is its primary use?

    Answer: Sodium citrate; for coagulation studies such as PT and PTT

    Light blue tubes contain sodium citrate, which reversibly binds calcium to prevent coagulation; this makes them essential for PT, PTT, and other coagulation studies requiring a precise 9:1 blood-to-additive ratio.

  2. Which tube color indicates a plain tube with no additive, used to collect serum by allowing natural clotting?

    Answer: Plain red (no additive)

    Plain red top tubes contain no additive, allowing blood to clot naturally so that serum can be separated by centrifugation for chemistry and serology testing.

  3. What does SST stand for in phlebotomy, and which color is it typically associated with?

    Answer: Serum Separator Tube; gold or tiger-top

    SST stands for Serum Separator Tube; it contains a thixotropic gel and a clot activator, and after centrifugation the gel forms a barrier between serum and the clot for easy serum harvest.

  4. How should used phlebotomy needles be disposed of immediately after removal from the patient?

    Answer: Place directly into an approved sharps container without recapping

    OSHA standards require immediate disposal of used needles into an approved sharps container without recapping, as recapping is the leading cause of needlestick injuries among healthcare workers.

  5. What is the required blood-to-additive ratio for a light blue sodium citrate tube to ensure valid coagulation results?

    Answer: 9:1

    Light blue tubes must be filled to the correct volume to achieve a 9:1 blood-to-sodium-citrate ratio; underfilling dilutes the sample while overfilling leaves excess anticoagulant, both of which invalidate PT and PTT results.

  6. Which additive in gray top tubes inhibits glycolysis to preserve accurate glucose measurements?

    Answer: Sodium fluoride

    Sodium fluoride inhibits the glycolytic enzyme enolase, halting cellular consumption of glucose and preserving accurate glucose concentrations for up to 24 hours.

  7. What gauge needle is typically used for whole blood donation collection to allow rapid collection of the required volume?

    Answer: 16 gauge

    Blood donation uses a 16-gauge needle to allow approximately 450–500 mL of blood to be collected efficiently within the required timeframe without excessive hemolysis.