Explain the order of the draw for tubes.

Explanation should include the following as Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) lists the order of draw:

• Blood culture tube
• Coagulation tube (e.g., blue closure)
• Serum tube with or without clot activator and with or without gel (e.g., red closure)
• Heparin tube with or without gel plasma separator (e.g., green closure)
• Edetate disodium (EDTA) tube with or without gel separator (e.g., lavender closure, pearl closure)
• Glycolytic inhibitor (e.g., gray closure)

Process/Skill Questions:

• What color tube is drawn first?
• Why is the order of the draw so important?