Which additive would you find in the Light Green tube?

The Light Green tube, commonly used in phlebotomy for collecting and processing blood specimens for various laboratory tests, contains lithium heparin as its additive. Lithium heparin acts as an anticoagulant, which means it prevents the blood from clotting during the testing process. This property makes the Light Green tube particularly useful for test procedures where serum or plasma is required, as it allows for the separation of plasma from cells without the formation of a clot.

Additionally, lithium heparin is favored in certain diagnostic tests that require a quick turnaround time, allowing for accurate measurement of various analytes directly from the plasma. It is important to distinguish this additive from others, as each has specific functions and applications in laboratory settings. For instance, EDTA is used in purple or lavender tops and functions differently in terms of anticoagulation compared to heparin.