What laboratory area utilizes samples collected in red plastic tubes?

The laboratory area that utilizes samples collected in red plastic tubes is chemistry. Red plastic tubes are typically serum tubes, which do not contain any additives to aid in clotting. After blood collection, these tubes are allowed to clot, and the serum is then separated by centrifugation. This serum is crucial for various chemistry tests, such as assessing electrolyte levels, liver and kidney function tests, and lipid panels.

In contrast, coagulation tests require additives like sodium citrate for the preservation of clotting factors, while hematology tests generally involve whole blood or samples collected in tubes with anticoagulants. Pathology primarily focuses on tissue samples, which are not collected in red plastic tubes. Therefore, the chemistry department is the correct context for the use of red plastic tubes.