Blood bottles guide | UKMLA | CPSA

Geeky Medics

13 Jul 201404:08

Summary

TLDRThis educational video offers an overview of common blood collection tubes and their respective tests. Purple tops are for hematology, including full blood counts and HbA1c, while gold tops are for biochemistry tests like liver function and electrolytes. Blue tops assess clotting with coagulation screens, and gray tops are for glucose and lactate tests. Pink tubes are for transfusion lab samples, and blood cultures help isolate organisms for targeted therapy. Arterial blood gas samples provide crucial data for managing acutely ill patients. The video emphasizes the importance of following hospital-specific protocols.

Takeaways

🔬 The purple top bottle is used for hematology tests, including full blood count, hemoglobin, platelets, and white cell count, as well as for HbA1c tests in diabetic blood sugar control.
🧪 The gold top bottle is designated for a variety of biochemistry tests such as Ura, electrolytes, liver function, C-reactive protein, bone profile, magnesium, lipids, thyroid function, and cardiac enzymes.
🩸 The blue bottle is utilized for coagulation tests that assess the clotting system, including Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen, with INR being crucial for monitoring warfarin therapy.
💉 The grey top bottle is for specific biochemistry tests like glucose and lactate, the latter of which can be elevated in conditions causing tissue hypoperfusion, such as sepsis or acute ischemia.
🏥 The pink bottle is for sending blood samples to the transfusion lab for patients who may need a transfusion, with options for group and save or Cross Match to determine and store the patient's blood group.
🏷️ Blood culture bottles are used to send samples to microbiology for culture to isolate organisms, which is essential for targeted antimicrobial therapy and requires an aseptic approach to avoid contamination.
🩺 Arterial blood gas samples are taken from the radial artery at the wrist and provide values for pH, P2 (oxygen content), pCO2 (carbon dioxide content), bicarbonate, and base excess, crucial for assessing acutely unwell patients.
⏱️ Arterial blood gas samples must be delivered to the lab within about 20 minutes of collection for accurate processing.
📋 The video emphasizes that protocols and equipment may vary between different trusts, and healthcare professionals should adhere to specific guidelines provided by their trust.
📞 The video encourages viewers to contact hospital labs for advice if needed, highlighting the availability of support from lab professionals.
🔄 The script provides generic information about blood bottles and tests, but it reminds viewers that specific practices may differ and to follow local protocols.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the video?
-The video is intended to help viewers understand which blood bottles are used for different blood tests, so they can choose the appropriate equipment when working in a hospital setting.
Which blood bottle is used for hematology tests, and what are some examples of these tests?
-The purple top bottle is used for hematology tests, including a full blood count, hemoglobin tests, platelet count, and white cell count, which are important for various medical scenarios such as assessing blood loss, infection, and bleeding risks.
What is the significance of hemoglobin in medical investigations?
-Hemoglobin is an important investigation for numerous scenarios, including blood loss, as it helps in understanding the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
What does the purple top bottle's use extend to besides full blood count?
-Besides full blood count, the purple top bottle is also used for tests like HbA1c, which is crucial for assessing diabetic blood sugar control.
What type of tests are conducted using the gold top bottle?
-The gold top bottle is used for a range of biochemistry tests including Urea and Electrolytes, liver function tests, C-reactive protein, bone profile, magnesium, lipids, thyroid function tests, and cardiac enzymes.
What does the term 'Ura' refer to in the context of the gold top bottle?
-In the context of the gold top bottle, 'Ura' refers to Urea, a measure used for assessing kidney function and detecting electrolyte imbalances.
What is the purpose of the blue bottle in blood testing?
-The blue bottle is used for hematology tests to assess the clotting system, including coagulation screen tests such as Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen.
What is the importance of INR in medical testing?
-INR, or International Normalized Ratio, is important for monitoring Warfarin therapy, a medication used to prevent blood clots, and helps in managing patients with conditions that require careful blood clotting management.
What specific tests are the grey top bottles used for?
-The grey top bottles are used for two specific biochemistry tests: glucose, which can be a fasting or random value, and lactate, which can be raised in conditions causing tissue hypoperfusion, such as sepsis or acute ischemia.
What is the pink bottle used for in terms of blood transfusion?
-The pink bottle is used to send a blood sample to the transfusion lab for patients who may require a blood transfusion, where tests like group and save or Cross Match can be requested to determine and store the patient's blood group and ensure compatibility for transfusion.
Why is it important to label the pink bottle at the patient's bedside?
-Labeling the pink bottle at the patient's bedside after confirming the patient's details ensures the accuracy of the blood sample and helps in swiftly ordering blood if needed for transfusion.
What is the purpose of blood culture bottles in medical testing?
-Blood culture bottles are used to send samples to microbiology for culture to isolate organisms, which enables targeted antimicrobial therapy and helps in diagnosing infections.
How should arterial blood gas samples be handled to ensure accuracy?
-Arterial blood gas samples should be collected in specific syringes and taken to the lab within about 20 minutes of collection to ensure accurate processing and timely assessment of the patient's condition.
What information does an arterial blood gas test provide?
-An arterial blood gas test provides values for pH, oxygen content (P2), carbon dioxide content (PCO2), bicarbonate, and base excess, which are important for assessing the severity of illness, clarifying diagnoses, and guiding management in acutely unwell patients.

Outlines

00:00

💉 Blood Test Bottles Overview

This paragraph introduces various blood collection tubes and their respective tests, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right equipment for different tests in a hospital setting. It mentions that protocols may vary by healthcare trust. The purple top bottle is specified for hematology tests, including full blood count and HbA1c, which are crucial for assessing blood loss, infection, and diabetic blood sugar control. The gold top bottle is for biochemistry tests like Ura, electrolytes, liver function, and more, which are vital for kidney function assessment and detecting electrolyte imbalances. The blue bottle is for coagulation tests, and the grey top bottle is for glucose and lactate tests, which can indicate tissue hypoperfusion conditions like sepsis. The pink bottle is for transfusion lab samples, involving blood grouping and cross-matching, with a focus on accurate patient identification and labeling. Blood culture bottles are highlighted for microbiology to isolate organisms for targeted therapy, with an emphasis on aseptic technique to prevent contamination. Lastly, arterial blood gas sampling is discussed for providing critical values in acute patient care, with a reminder of the urgency for lab processing.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Blood Bottles

Blood bottles are containers used to collect and store blood samples for various medical tests. They are essential in the video's theme as they determine the type of tests that can be conducted on the blood. The script describes different colored top bottles for different tests, such as the purple top for hematology tests and the gold top for biochemistry tests.

💡Blood Tests

Blood tests are medical procedures that analyze blood samples to diagnose or monitor various conditions. The video's main theme revolves around understanding which blood tests are conducted using specific blood bottles. Examples from the script include full blood count, liver function tests, and blood sugar assessments.

💡Full Blood Count (FBC)

Full Blood Count is a test that measures the different components of blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is mentioned in the script as one of the most common tests performed using the purple top bottle, indicating its importance in numerous medical scenarios.

💡Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. The script explains that hemoglobin testing is crucial for investigating conditions like blood loss and is part of the full blood count test conducted in the purple top bottle.

💡Platelets

Platelets are blood components that play a key role in blood clotting. The script mentions that a low platelet count can result in an increased bleeding risk, highlighting the importance of platelet testing in the full blood count.

💡White Cell Count

White Cell Count measures the number of white blood cells, which are part of the immune system. The script indicates that an increased white cell count is typically associated with infection, making it a critical part of the full blood count.

💡HbA1c

HbA1c is a blood test that reflects average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. It is used in the assessment of diabetic blood sugar control, as mentioned in the script, and is conducted using the purple top bottle.

💡Biochemistry Tests

Biochemistry tests analyze the chemical composition of blood to assess organ function and metabolic processes. The gold top bottle is used for a range of these tests, including electrolytes and liver function, as described in the script.

💡Coagulation Screen

Coagulation Screen is a group of tests that assess the blood's ability to clot. The script specifies that the blue top bottle is used for these tests, which include Prothrombin time and fibrinogen, important for monitoring conditions like deep vein thrombosis.

💡Blood Culture

Blood culture involves growing blood samples to isolate microorganisms, aiding in the diagnosis of infections. The script explains that blood culture bottles are used to send samples to microbiology for culture, emphasizing the need for aseptic technique to avoid contamination.

💡Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

Arterial Blood Gas is a test that measures the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH in arterial blood. The script describes this test as crucial for assessing the severity of illness in acutely unwell patients and guiding treatment decisions.

Highlights

The video provides an introduction to commonly used blood bottles and tests.

The purpose is to help understand which bottles are used for specific tests for appropriate equipment selection.

Equipment and protocols may vary between different trusts.

The purple top bottle is used for hematology tests including full blood count.

Hemoglobin is important for investigating blood loss, platelet levels, and white cell counts.

The purple bottle is also used for HbA1c tests in assessing diabetic blood sugar control.

The gold top bottle is for a range of biochemistry tests including Ura, electrolytes, and liver function.

Gold top bottles are used for specialist tests in endocrinology, oncology, toxicology, virology, and immunology.

The blue bottle is for hematology tests to assess the clotting system and coagulation screen.

INR is important for monitoring warfarin therapy and diagnosing deep vein thrombosis.

The grey top bottle is used for glucose and lactate tests, important in conditions causing tissue hypoperfusion.

The pink bottle is for sending blood samples to the transfusion lab for potential blood transfusions.

Blood culture bottles are used for microbiology to isolate organisms for targeted antimicrobial therapy.

Aseptic technique is crucial in filling blood culture bottles to avoid contamination.

Arterial blood gas samples provide values for pH, oxygen content, and carbon dioxide levels.

Arterial blood gas tests are crucial for assessing the severity of illness and guiding management.

Hospital labs are available for advice and assistance with blood testing procedures.