What is the significance of Sodium heparin in Dark Green tubes?

Sodium heparin is significant in dark green tubes primarily because it acts as an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants are substances that prevent blood from clotting, which is essential in various laboratory tests that require the analysis of plasma or whole blood. By inhibiting the coagulation cascade, sodium heparin ensures that the blood samples can be processed without the interference of clot formation, which could affect the accuracy of test results.

The role of sodium heparin is crucial in tests that measure components of the plasma, such as electrolytes, hormones, and other biochemical markers. It allows for accurate assessment of these parameters, making the use of dark green tubes with sodium heparin appropriate for tests that require anticoagulation.

The other choices pertain to functions or roles that do not apply to sodium heparin in the context of dark green tubes. For example, stabilizing glucose levels is typically associated with fluoride or oxalate, preservatives are more commonly found in tubes for specific tests when sample integrity needs to be maintained, and enhancing cellular growth is unrelated to the function of anticoagulant additives in blood collection tubes.