Which laboratory tests can be performed using a heparin tube?

• A. Chemistry tests
• B. Lipid panel
• C. Glucose tests
• D. Coagulation or hematology test

Answer: (D)

Heparin tubes contain an anticoagulant that keeps blood from clotting, so the blood can be processed to obtain plasma or preserved cellular components. This makes them suitable for tests that require an anticoagulated sample and rely on plasma or intact cells, which is the case for many coagulation studies and some hematology assays. In practice, coagulation tests look at factors in plasma, and certain hematology measurements need blood that hasn’t clotted, so an anticoagulated sample is used. Other tests like lipid panels typically require serum, and glucose testing often uses tubes that inhibit glycolysis to prevent sugar loss, so they aren’t the primary use for heparin tubes. So, using a heparin tube is appropriate for coagulation or hematology testing.