Which order of draw is correct when collecting multiple evacuated tubes during venipuncture?
Answer choices
- ALavender, light blue, gold, green, gray, blood culture
- BGold, gray, green, lavender, light blue, blood culture
- CAny order is acceptable if tubes are fully filled
- DBlood culture, light blue, gold or red, green, lavender, gray
About this question
What is the correct order of draw for multiple evacuated tubes? Order of draw is one of the highest-yield CCMA laboratory collection topics because additive carryover can ruin coagulation and chemistry results. Blood culture first also protects against contamination. Read the wording and clinical context closely; those details determine the NHA CCMA competency being tested.
This question asks you to sequence common tubes correctly. A standard pattern is blood culture, then light blue (citrate), then serum (gold/red), green (heparin), lavender (EDTA), and gray. Putting lavender before light blue is a frequent trap that can contaminate PT/INR with EDTA. Memorize cultures → citrate → serum → heparin → EDTA → gray as one chain. For order of draw blood culture light blue lavender, turn the deciding clue into a short flashcard prompt for your next review session.
Reveal answer & explanationShow
Correct answer
- ALavender, light blue, gold, green, gray, blood culture
- BGold, gray, green, lavender, light blue, blood culture
- CAny order is acceptable if tubes are fully filled
- DBlood culture, light blue, gold or red, green, lavender, grayCorrect
Basic rationale
Standard order of draw prevents additive carryover between tubes and protects test accuracy.
Option explanations
- A: Blood culture and citrate tubes should come first.
- B: This sequence risks additive cross-contamination.
- C: Fill volume does not replace correct draw order.
- D: Correct. This follows standard order of draw.
Deep Analysis
Core logic
Tube sequence is designed so earlier additives do not contaminate later specimens. Blood culture and citrate tubes precede serum and EDTA tubes.
Distractor analysis
A: Incorrect because lavender before light blue can carry EDTA into coagulation testing. B: Incorrect because gray before serum tubes can contaminate chemistry results. C: Incorrect because random order increases preanalytical error risk.
Exam trap
Memorize the standard sequence rather than guessing by tube color alone.
Memory tip
Culture, blue, gold or red, green, lavender, gray.
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