Which color top is used for acid citrate dextrose (ACD) in blood banking procedures?

Which color top is used for acid citrate dextrose (ACD) in blood banking procedures?

• A. Yellow
• B. Light Blue
• C. Gray
• D. Red

Answer: (A)

In blood banking, tube top color signals the additive inside, guiding how the sample is handled. Yellow-top tubes contain acid citrate dextrose, which acts as an anticoagulant and preservative. The citrate portion binds calcium to prevent clotting, while the dextrose helps keep cells viable during storage. This combination is specifically used for certain blood banking procedures, including preserving donor units for longer storage and for specialized testing like HLA typing and stem cell work. That’s why the color code for this additive is associated with yellow. By contrast, light blue tops indicate a citrate anticoagulant used for standard coagulation tests, gray tops have fluoride/oxalate for glucose testing, and red tops are used for serum testing without anticoagulant.

In blood banking, tube top color signals the additive inside, guiding how the sample is handled. Yellow-top tubes contain acid citrate dextrose, which acts as an anticoagulant and preservative. The citrate portion binds calcium to prevent clotting, while the dextrose helps keep cells viable during storage. This combination is specifically used for certain blood banking procedures, including preserving donor units for longer storage and for specialized testing like HLA typing and stem cell work. That’s why the color code for this additive is associated with yellow. By contrast, light blue tops indicate a citrate anticoagulant used for standard coagulation tests, gray tops have fluoride/oxalate for glucose testing, and red tops are used for serum testing without anticoagulant.