CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) Practice Exam

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For a LIGHT BLUE tube, what test is typically run, which anticoagulant is used, and to which lab section is it sent?

  1. PK, sodium heparin, chemistry

  2. Coagulation studies, sodium citrate, serology

  3. Routine chemistry, SST, chemistry

  4. Blood typing, EDTA, hematology

The correct answer is: Coagulation studies, sodium citrate, serology

The light blue tube is primarily used for coagulation studies, which include tests such as PT (prothrombin time) and aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time). The anticoagulant present in the light blue tube is sodium citrate, which functions to bind calcium ions in the blood, thereby preventing clotting. This is essential for accurate testing in the coagulation lab, as the presence of clotting factors is necessary to perform these tests effectively. Additionally, samples from the light blue tube are typically sent to the coagulation section of the laboratory, not serology. The distinct role of sodium citrate in preserving the sample for coagulation studies, as well as the specific tests performed, solidifies the importance of the light blue tube in phlebotomy and laboratory processes.