EDTA tubes are blood collection tubes that contain Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an anticoagulant. These are commonly used in clinical and laboratory settings for various blood tests.
EDTA prevents blood from clotting by binding calcium, which is necessary for the clotting process. EDTA tubes are primarily used for:
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Blood smears
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Molecular testing (e.g., PCR, DNA analysis)
Blood typing and crossmatching
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Additive | EDTA (commonly K2EDTA or K3EDTA) |
Color of Cap | Lavender or purple |
Mechanism | Chelates calcium ions to prevent coagulation |
Volume Range | Typically 2–10 mL depending on the tube |
Specimen Type | Whole blood or plasma |