What is EDTA Tube & How to Use it?

An EDTA blood collection tube contains Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an anticoagulant, used to prevent blood clotting during hematological testing. This blog will explore the essential aspects of What is EDTA tubes, a crucial medical equipment tool in medical diagnostics. It will begin by explaining what an EDTA tube is, followed by an overview of the various EDTA tube colors these tubes come in, each serving a specific purpose in medical testing. We will then deep dive into the common usages of EDTA tubes, particularly in blood sample collection and preservation.

What is an EDTA Tube?

EDTA, or Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is a key anticoagulant used extensively in hematology. It works by binding calcium ions, which are necessary for blood clotting, thereby preventing the blood from coagulating. This makes EDTA essential for various hematological procedures, such as identifying and counting different types of blood cells, determining blood groups, and conducting other diagnostic tests. The accuracy and reliability of these tests depend on the effective use of EDTA to maintain the integrity of the blood sample.

Different Colours of EDTA Tube:

Below is the table showing the EDTA tube colors and uses.

EDTA Tube Color	Usage
Purple Top	Used for complete blood counts (CBC) and blood smears; standard for most hematology tests.
Pink Top	Used for blood banking and cross-matching; similar to lavender but reserved for transfusion.
Tan Top	Used for lead testing in toxicology; designed to avoid contamination and ensure accurate results.
Royal Blue Top with EDTA	Used for trace element and heavy metal testing; free of contaminants for sensitive assays.

Usage of an EDTA Tube:

After treatment with EDTA, plasma can be utilized for measuring most proteins, making it a versatile tool in laboratory diagnostics. Additionally, EDTA facilitates the storage of genetic material by forming buffy coats, which are the layers between the red cells and plasma after centrifugation. These buffy coats are crucial for preserving DNA and RNA samples for further genetic analysis.

Note: EDTA tubes may contain either K2 EDTA or K3 EDTA, each serving specific laboratory needs. K2 EDTA is commonly used in molecular testing, while K3 EDTA is often used in routine hematology procedures.

Different Brands of EDTA Tube on Medikabazaar:

Medikabazaar offers a range of EDTA tubes, including Accucera K3 EDTA, Levram K3EDTA, Curdia K2EDTA, Meditubex K3EDTA 2ml and many more. Shop online.

Accucera K3 EDTA Blood Collection Tube: This tube contains K3 EDTA as an anticoagulant and is designed for vacuum blood collection, making it suitable for hematology tests and preserving whole blood samples.

Levram K3EDTA Non Vacuum Blood Collection Tube: Featuring K3 EDTA, this non-vacuum tube is manually filled with blood and is commonly used for manual sample collection in laboratories.

Curdia K2EDTA Non Vacuum Blood Collection Tube: This non-vacuum tube contains K2 EDTA for anticoagulation and is ideal for manual blood collection and accurate hematology testing.

Meditubex K3EDTA 2ml Non Vacuum Blood Collection Tube: With a 2ml capacity, this non-vacuum tube contains K3 EDTA and is used for blood tests requiring smaller volumes.

Nasmed K2 EDTA Vacuum Blood Collection Tube: This tube contains K2 EDTA and is designed for vacuum blood collection, ensuring efficient and accurate blood sample collection for laboratory analysis.

EDTA tubes are essential for various hematology tests due to their ability to prevent blood clotting. They come in different EDTA Tube colors to denote various additive concentrations and purposes.

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