Blood bottles

The order form for blood bottles can be found below:

• GP locations

All completed forms should be emailed to [email protected].

Orders must be sent Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm so they can be reviewed and appropriate stock allocated.

Blood bottle types for most frequently requested tests

Serum separating tube (SST)

• Colour: Gold
• Information: This tube type is used for the vast majority of Biochemistry, Immunology Serology tests.
• Important notes: The sample should be inverted about six times to ensure the blood and gel mixes to activate the clotting process. The samples must not be shaken to mix the blood.

Lithium heparin or plasma separating tube

• Colour: Green
• Information: A few of the tests that use this tube type require the plasma to be frozen within 30 minutes of the sample being taken.
• Important notes: The tubes should be filled up to the line indicated on the tube to ensure the correct ratio of blood to anticoagulant is achieved for analysis. The sample should be inverted about six times to ensure the blood and anticoagulant mixes. The samples must not be shaken to mix the blood.

Sodium heparin tube

• Colour: Dark Blue
• Information: These sample are used to check the levels of trace metals, lead and mercury in the blood
• Important notes: The tubes should be filled up to the line indicated on the tube to ensure the correct ratio of blood to anticoagulant is achieved for analysis. The sample should be inverted about six times to ensure the blood and anticoagulant mixes.

Plain tube

• Colour: Red
• Information: These tubes are very rarely used and should only used for a specimen under instruction from the laboratory.
• Important notes: These tubes should not be shaken

Fluoride oxalate tube

• Colour: Grey
• Information: Anticoagulant and fluoride salt act as a glycolysis inhibitor to stabilise the glucose concentration in the sample. Main tests analysed on the sample are glucose, lactate and alcohol.
• Important notes: The tubes should be filled up to the line indicated on the tube to ensure the correct ratio to blood to anticoagulant is achieved for analysis. The sample should be inverted about six times to ensure the blood and anticoagulant mixes. The samples must not be shaken to mix the blood.

Potassium EDTA tube

• Colour: Lavender
• Information: Potassium EDTA serves as the anticoagulant for the performance of almost all haematological tests. Larger EDTA bottles are used for transfusion samples only.
• Important notes: The tubes should be filled up to the line indicated on the tube to ensure the correct ratio to blood to anticoagulant is achieved for analysis. The sample should be inverted about six times to ensure the blood and anticoagulant mixes. The samples must not be shaken to mix the blood.

Sodium citrate tube

• Colour: Light blue
• Information: The ratio between anticoagulant and blood for physiological examinations is 1:9.
• Important notes: The tubes should be filled up to the line indicated on the tube to ensure the correct ratio to blood to anticoagulant is achieved for analysis. The sample should be inverted about six times to ensure the blood and anticoagulant mixes. The samples must not be shaken to mix the blood.