Correct Answer: red stopper tubes
in clinical settings, different blood collection tubes are used for various types of medical tests, and the color of the tube's stopper indicates the presence or absence of certain additives. these additives can include anticoagulants, clot activators, or other substances that prepare the blood for specific types of analysis. understanding which tube to use is critical for obtaining accurate test results.
among the common options, red stopper tubes are notable because they contain no additives. this absence of additives means that the blood will clot naturally within the tube. once the blood has clotted, the serum can be separated by centrifugation. serum is the liquid portion of the blood that remains after blood cells and clotting proteins have been removed, and it is used in many different types of diagnostic tests, including hormone levels, enzyme activities, and drug monitoring.
the use of red stopper tubes is especially prevalent in chemistry panels and tests conducted by blood banks. in these applications, the natural serum—free from any additives—is essential for the accuracy of chemical analysis and for ensuring that no external substances interfere with the results.
it is important to contrast red stopper tubes with other types, such as lavender stopper tubes, which contain an anticoagulant called edta, or light blue stopper tubes, which contain sodium citrate. these additives prevent the blood from clotting, which is necessary for tests that require whole blood or plasma, rather than serum.
in summary, when a test requires serum without any alteration from additives, red stopper tubes are the appropriate choice. their lack of additives allows for the natural clotting of blood, and subsequent processing yields serum that is used in many diagnostic tests. this makes red stopper tubes a fundamental resource in clinical chemistry and blood bank settings.
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