What laboratory tests are performed on the grey tube described here?

What laboratory tests are performed on the grey tube described here?

• A. Glucose and toxicology determinations
• B. CBC
• C. Lipid panel
• D. Electrolyte panel

Answer: (A)

Gray-top tubes contain a fluoride-oxalate combination. The fluoride component inhibits glycolysis, preserving glucose in the blood sample, while the oxalate acts as an anticoagulant to keep plasma from clotting. This makes the tube ideal for glucose measurements and certain toxicology determinations (such as alcohol or drug testing), where accurate, preserved glucose and an unclotted specimen are important. Other common tests use different tube types (CBC with EDTA, lipid panels with serum from red/gold tubes, electrolytes with heparinized plasma or serum), so they aren’t performed in this gray top.

Gray-top tubes contain a fluoride-oxalate combination. The fluoride component inhibits glycolysis, preserving glucose in the blood sample, while the oxalate acts as an anticoagulant to keep plasma from clotting. This makes the tube ideal for glucose measurements and certain toxicology determinations (such as alcohol or drug testing), where accurate, preserved glucose and an unclotted specimen are important. Other common tests use different tube types (CBC with EDTA, lipid panels with serum from red/gold tubes, electrolytes with heparinized plasma or serum), so they aren’t performed in this gray top.