Which top tube is commonly used for a lipid panel, and is fasting typically required?

• A. SST Gold Top
• B. EDTA Lavender Top
• C. Red Top (Plain Serum)
• D. Light Blue Top (Sodium Citrate)

Answer: (B)

In lipid testing, the tube choice matters because the sample type (serum vs. plasma) can affect lipid measurements. The lavender-top tube contains EDTA and prevents clotting, giving plasma that some laboratories use for lipid panels. This approach can be convenient because it allows rapid handling and preserves lipids in a stable form for analysis in many chemistry platforms. For triglycerides in particular, fasting is typically recommended to minimize post-meal variation, with the common guideline being a 9–12 hour fast for accurate results. In practice, many labs still use serum-based tubes (like gold SST or plain red) for lipid panels, but some settings perform the panel on EDTA plasma, making the lavender-top tube a common choice in those contexts. The key idea is that the top tube you select should yield the appropriate specimen type for the lab’s lipid assay, and fasting helps standardize triglyceride results across patients.