🔬Lab & Specimen Handling
What is a lavender top tube?
A lavender (purple) top tube contains EDTA anticoagulant and is used for CBC, blood typing, and DNA testing.
EDTA works by chelating calcium, preventing blood from clotting. Lavender top tubes are the most commonly used tube in hematology.
Common tests using lavender/purple top tubes:
Tubes must be inverted 8–10 times immediately after collection to mix EDTA with blood.
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- What labs do mobile phlebotomists work with?
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- Can samples go to LabCorp?
- Can samples go to specialty labs?
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- Can mobile phlebotomists process Genova Diagnostics kits?
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- Can mobile phlebotomists centrifuge samples on-site?
- What is centrifugation?
- How soon must samples be processed after collection?
- What is the difference between serum and plasma?
- How many tubes are needed per test?
- Can tubes be shared across tests?
- Why do labs request multiple tubes?
- Can serum be aliquoted?
- What is aliquoting?
- Can blood samples be frozen?
- What temperature is required for blood specimens?
- Can mobile phlebotomy ship with dry ice?
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- Who provides shipping materials?
- Can mobile phlebotomy providers order supplies through the platform?
- Can mobile phlebotomy handle STAT specimens?
- What is sample stability time?
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- Can providers courier samples directly to labs?
- Can samples be shipped overnight?
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- What is chain of custody?
- Can forensic samples be collected?
- Can drug testing be done via mobile phlebotomy?
- Can blood cultures be drawn?
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- What is an SST tube?
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- What is a blue top tube?
- How much blood is drawn per test?
- Is it safe to draw multiple tubes in one session?
- What if a sample is rejected by the lab?
- Who is responsible for redraws?
- Can mobile phlebotomy fix lab errors?
- Can samples be tracked after collection?
- What if shipping is delayed?
- Can providers label samples?
- Can providers print labels?
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- What if a patient is not fasting?
- Can fasting labs be done at home?
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- Can mobile phlebotomy meet lab standards?
- Are protocols standardized?
- Can providers follow custom SOPs?
- Can clinical trials require special handling?
- Can pediatric samples be handled?
- Can difficult draws affect samples?
- Can samples be split into multiple vials?
- Can providers handle urine samples?
- Can saliva samples be collected?
- Can stool kits be handled?
- Can samples be refrigerated?
- Can mobile phlebotomy meet CAP/CLIA expectations?
- Who is responsible for specimen integrity?
- Can providers reject unsafe orders?
- What happens if instructions are unclear?
- Can providers contact labs directly?
- Can labs audit mobile phlebotomists?
- Can providers document specimen handling?
- Are logs maintained?
- Can providers upload proof of delivery?
- Can samples be hand-delivered?
- What is the best way to ensure sample quality?
- Can samples be stored temporarily?
- What if a patient is not fasting?
- What happens if processing is missed?
- How do you prevent hemolysis?
- Can mobile phlebotomy meet lab standards?
- Are protocols standardized?
- Can providers follow custom SOPs?
- Can clinical trials require special handling?
- Can pediatric samples be handled?
- Can difficult draws affect samples?
- Can samples be split into multiple vials?
- Can mobile phlebotomy support research protocols?
- Can providers handle urine samples?
- Can saliva samples be collected?
- Can stool kits be handled?
- Can blood be drawn for DNA tests?
- Can samples be refrigerated?
- Can providers bring centrifuges?
- Can mobile phlebotomy meet CAP/CLIA expectations?
- Who is responsible for specimen integrity?
- Can providers reject unsafe orders?
- What happens if instructions are unclear?
- Can providers contact labs directly?
- Can labs audit mobile phlebotomists?
- Can providers document specimen handling?
- Are logs maintained?
- Can providers upload proof of delivery?
- Can samples be hand-delivered?
- What is the best way to ensure sample quality?