| A | B |
|---|
| needles with gauge higher than 23 | increased chance of hemolyzing specimen |
| 23 gauge | most common butterfly needle |
| liquid, spray dried, powder | types of additives |
| 3-8 | range of times tube must be inverted immediately after collection |
| anticoagulant | substance that prevents blood from blotting |
| clotting | coagulating |
| whole blood or plasma test | specimen collected in tube with anticoagulant |
| anticoagulated specimens | mixed immediately to prevent microclots |
| gentle mixing | prevents hemolysis |
| phEDTA | purple top goes to hematology |
| ECHO | most common anticoagulants |
| EDTA, citrate, heparin, oxalate | ECHO |
| Spring Creates Colorful Light-Blue Pansies | sodium citrate tubes go to coagulation, have light-blue stoppers and yield plasma |
| HH | heparin inhibits thrombin formation |
| in-in | heparin ends with "in" and inhibits starts with "in" |
| Greenhouses Have Colorful Plants | green tubes contain heparin for chemistry tests on plasma |
| GO | gray oxalate |
| LL | lavender last, except for gray |
| underfilled blue tops | prolongs clotting time |
| sodium fluoride | most common antiglycolytic agent |
