HENSO Blood Collection Tubes Vacutainer Type

Specifications

Tube Size: 13X75mm, 13X100mm, 16X100mm, 8X120mm

Types:

1, SST tube, Gel&clot activator, yellow top

2, Serum Tube, Clot activator, red top

3, Plain Tube, No additive, red top

4, EDTA tube, EDTA K2 or EDTA K3, lavender top

5, Heparin Tube, Lithium Heparin or Sodium Heparin, green top

6, PT Tube, 3.2% Sodium citrate (1:9), blue top

7, ESR tube, 3.8% Sodium citrate(1:4), black top

8, Glucose tube, Sodium Heparin +Sodium Fluoride, grey top

Features:
a. accurate vacuum draw volume
b. excellent performance additive
c. shelf time 18 months for PET, 24 months for glass

History and meaning of Vacutainer

Source: Wikipedia

Vacutainer is a registered brand of test tube specifically designed for venipuncture. It was developed in 1947 by Joseph Kleiner, and is currently marketed by Becton, Dickinson and company.

Nowdays, people are accustomed to use 'vacutainer' or 'vacutainer tubes' which means 'vacuum blood collection tubes'.

The vein is first punctured with the hypodermic needle which is carried in a translucent plastic holder. The needle is double ended, the second shorter needle being shrouded for safety by the holder. When a Vacutainer test tube is pushed down into the holder, its rubber cap is pierced by the second needle and the pressure difference between the blood volume and the vacuum in the tube forces blood through the needle and into the tube. The filled tube is then removed and another can be inserted and filled the same way. It is important to remove the tube before withdrawing the needle, as there may still be some suction left, causing pain upon withdrawal.

The test tubes are covered with a color-coded plastic cap. They often include additives that mix with the blood when collected (see below), and the colour of the tube's plastic cap indicates which additives that tube contains.

The plastic caps are opaque for tubes with a normal vacuum. Translucent-topped tubes contain a weaker vacuum in the same sized tube, and will obtain less blood. The weaker suction makes them more suitable for smaller sized veins. Because of the standardised suction of the tubes, they may cause the veins of elderly people, or those with delicate veins, to collapse. In this case a syringe should be used instead.