What Tube for a Hemoglobin A1c?
Lavender-top (or pink) K2EDTA tube; the test uses whole blood.
- Additive
- K2EDTA
- Inversions
- 8–10 times
- Order of draw
- #5 of 6
Collection and handling
- Invert 8–10 times.
- ARUP stores and ships A1c whole blood refrigerated.
Exam tip
A1c reflects average glucose over roughly the past three months, so it is run on whole blood in EDTA, not on serum.
Where it falls in the order of draw
- 1. Blood culture bottles (aerobic + anaerobic) (Culture media)
- 2. Light blue (3.2% sodium citrate)
- 3. Gold / red-gray (SST) or red (Clot activator (SST also has gel))
- 4. Green / light green (PST) (Lithium heparin (PST also has gel))
- 5. Lavender (or pink) (K2EDTA)
- 6. Gray (Sodium fluoride / potassium oxalate)
Full explanation in the order of draw guide.
Tube requirements differ between labs and assays. Always follow your own laboratory's collection manual.
Drill tubes and order of draw until they stick
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