Which tube is used for clot-based serum tests and is often selected when serum is required?

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Multiple Choice

Which tube is used for clot-based serum tests and is often selected when serum is required?

Explanation:
When you need serum, you select a tube that promotes clotting and then separates the serum from the cells. The SST tube with a gold top contains a clot activator to speed clot formation and a serum separator gel. After centrifugation, the gel forms a barrier between the clot and the serum, yielding clean, cell-free serum ideal for chemistry and most serology tests. Other tubes contain anticoagulants—EDTA in the lavender top, heparin in the green top, and fluoride/oxalate in the gray top—so they prevent clotting and give plasma, not serum. Since serum is required for clot-based serum testing, the SST/Gold top is the appropriate choice.

When you need serum, you select a tube that promotes clotting and then separates the serum from the cells. The SST tube with a gold top contains a clot activator to speed clot formation and a serum separator gel. After centrifugation, the gel forms a barrier between the clot and the serum, yielding clean, cell-free serum ideal for chemistry and most serology tests. Other tubes contain anticoagulants—EDTA in the lavender top, heparin in the green top, and fluoride/oxalate in the gray top—so they prevent clotting and give plasma, not serum. Since serum is required for clot-based serum testing, the SST/Gold top is the appropriate choice.

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