Vacutest Kima lithium heparin tube, 4 ml, 12 × 75 mm

Biochemistry tubes are typically used for plasma tests in clinical chemistry departments. They come in a wide range of sizes, are made of plastic and are easy to identify by their green cap.

• The lithium and sodium heparin concentration is 17 IU/ml of blood.
• Recommended mixing: gently invert plasma tubes through 180° 8-10 times
• Size: 12x75 mm
• Volume: 4 ml

• Packaging:100 pcs/box - 1000 pcs/carton

KIMA Vacutest tubes are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a transparent material that allows visual inspection of blood and other biological fluids. The tubes withstand mechanical impact and centrifugation and do not crack if dropped accidentally during use.

Standard tube sizes:

• 13x75 mm
• 13x100 mm
• 16x100 mm

To improve the quality of coagulation test results, Vacutest KIMA makes tubes with thicker walls (the special Vacutest IN technology). Vacutest IN tubes collect a higher blood level than standard tubes of similar volume, which further prevents possible platelet activation.

A special transparent polypropylene label covering the full height of the tube prevents evaporation of the sodium citrate buffer solution and so maintains a 9:1 blood-to-anticoagulant ratio over a long shelf life of up to 12 months.

This patented combination of Vacutest IN technology and a transparent polypropylene label ensures reliable laboratory testing.

Cap / stopper

The tube cap consists of a pierceable butyl rubber stopper and an outer plastic cap. The stopper has a recess at the puncture site to protect the operator from possible contact with blood.

The outer cap is made of polyethylene and protects against aerosols and splashes, prevents the operator from touching the rubber stopper and makes it easy to put the cap back on.

The special shape of the outer cap allows the same tube holder to be used for tubes with 13 mm and 16 mm caps.

Cap colour coding complies with ISO 6710

Blood collection procedure

When several blood samples are taken from one patient, the order of draw recommended by the CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) must be followed strictly to rule out any cross-contamination of samples with tube additives.

Caution!

Because red-cap tubes contain a clot activator (silicon dioxide), blood collection starts with the more sensitive sample for coagulation studies: the blue-cap tubes. When butterfly needles are used, some blood remains in the tubing, which can upset the blood-to-anticoagulant ratio, especially when blood is drawn into a sodium citrate tube. For reliable coagulation results, the first tube must be discarded and the tests run from a second tube. The discard tube can be either a tube without additive (white cap)* or a coagulation tube.

Filling the tubes

The measured vacuum fills the tube with a well-defined volume of blood. For an extra check of the blood volume, each tube has a fill mark on the label.

In line with international ISO, EN and CLSI recommendations, a filling tolerance of +/- 10% relative to the fill mark on the label is allowed.

Mixing the sample

After blood collection, mix the contents of the tube well to prevent clots and partial coagulation.

Caution! All tubes must be mixed, including those that contain a clot activator.

Storing and transporting samples

How long patient samples can be stored depends on the type of test and the stability of the specific analytes.

Centrifugation

Samples that need centrifugation must be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.