What is the primary use of the ‘light blue’ blood collection tube?

The primary use of the 'light blue' blood collection tube is for coagulation studies. This specific tube contains sodium citrate as an anticoagulant, which is essential in preventing blood from clotting. Coagulation studies are crucial for assessing how well and how quickly a patient's blood clots, which can provide important information about various health conditions, such as bleeding disorders or the effects of anticoagulant therapy. The use of sodium citrate ensures that the correct ratio of anticoagulant to blood is maintained, allowing for accurate test results. Thus, light blue tubes are specifically designed to facilitate these types of tests, making them vital in clinical laboratory settings.