Question

when several blood specimens ar ordered, they should be drawn into the color - coded stoppered tubes in what order?
a after the special tubes, red or red/black, green, lavender, yellow, blue, gray
b after the special tubes, light - blue, red/gray, gold, green, lavender, gray
c gray, yellow, blue, green, red or red/black, lavender, then special tubes
d lavender, green, gray, yellow, blue, red or red/black, then special tubes

Explanation:

When multiple blood specimens are ordered, the general order of draw (after special tubes if any) is light - blue (sodium citrate for coagulation studies), red/gray (serum separator tube - SST), gold (serum separator tube - SST), green (heparin for plasma or whole - blood chemistry), lavender (EDTA for hematology), gray (fluoride/oxalate for glucose or lactate). This is based on the principle of minimizing contamination between different additives in the tubes. For example, if a tube with an anticoagulant (like EDTA in lavender) is drawn before a coagulation tube (light - blue with citrate), the anticoagulant can contaminate the coagulation sample and affect test results.

Answer:

B. after the special tubes, light - blue, red/gray, gold, green, lavender, gray