What color tube is typically used for collecting serum?

The color tube typically used for collecting serum is the gold or green tube. These tubes contain a gel separator that facilitates the collection of serum by allowing the blood to clot and separating the serum from the clotted cells upon centrifugation. This feature is crucial because serum samples are needed for many laboratory tests, as they provide valuable information about a patient's health status without the interference of cellular components.

Gold top tubes, also known as serum separator tubes (SST), are specifically designed for serum collection and are often used for a variety of tests, including chemistry panels and certain serological tests. Green tubes, which contain heparin as an anticoagulant, are sometimes used for plasma but can also yield serum when the sample is allowed to clot.

The other choices represent different uses: red tubes are also for serum collection but depend on a simple collection without additives; light blue tubes contain sodium citrate for coagulation studies, and purple tubes typically contain EDTA, which is an anticoagulant used for hematology tests. Understanding the purpose of each tube color is essential for accurate specimen collection and subsequent laboratory analysis.