What are the typical vacuum pressure ranges for these tubes?

The vacuum pressure within vacuum blood collection tubes is typically measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and can vary depending on the specific requirements of the tube and the intended use. Here are the typical vacuum pressure ranges for some common types of vacuum blood collection tubes:

1. Standard Serum Tubes (Red or Gold Tops):

   • Vacuum Pressure Range: 15-20 mmHg
   • These tubes are generally used for routine serum chemistry tests and have a moderate vacuum pressure to facilitate blood collection without causing hemolysis.

2. Plasma Separator Tubes (Green Tops):

   • Vacuum Pressure Range: 1-5 mmHg
   • These tubes contain a gel separator to separate plasma from blood cells. The lower vacuum pressure helps in achieving a clear separation between plasma and cells.

3. Coagulation Tubes (Blue Tops):

   • Vacuum Pressure Range: 2-5 mmHg
   • Blue-top tubes contain an anticoagulant to prevent blood clotting and are used for coagulation tests. The vacuum pressure is relatively low to prevent excessive mixing of the anticoagulant with blood.

4. EDTA Tubes (Purple Tops):

   • Vacuum Pressure Range: 1-5 mmHg
   • These tubes contain the anticoagulant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and are used for hematology tests. The vacuum pressure is kept low to prevent hemolysis.

5. Gel Separator Tubes (Tiger Tops):

   • Vacuum Pressure Range: 4-7 mmHg
   • These tubes have a gel separator to separate serum or plasma from blood cells. The vacuum pressure is slightly higher than in standard serum tubes to ensure proper separation.

It is important to note that these are general ranges, and actual vacuum pressure specifications may vary between manufacturers and specific tube designs. Maintaining the appropriate vacuum pressure in vacuum blood collection tubes is crucial to ensure the quality and integrity of blood samples for accurate diagnostic testing.