What Tube for a Lactate (lactic acid)?
Pre-chilled gray-top tube (sodium fluoride / potassium oxalate), on ice.
- Additive
- Sodium fluoride / potassium oxalate
- Inversions
- 8–10 times
- Order of draw
- #6 of 6
Collection and handling
- Avoid prolonged tourniquet time (stasis falsely raises lactate).
- Put the tube back on ice and separate within 15 minutes.
Exam tip
Lactate and ammonia are the two common on-ice tests on certification exams.
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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