These are the blue-top blood collection tubes mainly used for coagulation tests. Quick, clean, and very specific in purpose.
Key details:
Additive: Sodium citrate (usually 3.2% / 0.109 M; sometimes 3.8%)
Function: Binds calcium to prevent clotting (reversible)
Blood : additive ratio: 9 : 1 → tube must be filled to the mark for accurate results
Common tests:
PT / INR
APTT
D-dimer
Fibrinogen
Coagulation factor assays