For a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test, several tube colors are acceptable according to the provided reference from UNC Medical Center's Mclendon Clinical Laboratories.
According to the reference, acceptable tubes for collecting blood specimens for TSH testing include:
- Mint Green top (specifically a Li Heparin plasma separator tube for routine specimens, or a mint green top bullet for micro specimens)
- Gold SST (serum)
- Red Top Tube (serum)
This means that while a Mint Green top tube is specified as the primary option for routine samples, Gold and Red top tubes containing serum are also considered acceptable alternatives for both routine and micro collection.
Acceptable Tubes for TSH Specimen Collection
Based on the Mclendon Clinical Laboratories information, here's a summary of the acceptable tube types and colors:
- Routine Specimen (4 mL blood):
- Mint Green top (Li Heparin plasma separator tube)
- Gold SST (serum)
- Red Top Tube (serum)
- Micro Specimen (0.9 mL blood):
- Mint Green top (bullet)
- Gold top
- Red top
Tube Types and Colors Mentioned in Reference
| Tube Type | Color | Specimen Type Mentioned | Applicable Sample Size Mentioned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Li Heparin plasma separator | Mint Green | Plasma | Routine (4 mL) |
| SST (Serum Separator Tube) | Gold | Serum | Routine (4 mL), Micro (0.9 mL) |
| Red Top Tube | Red | Serum | Routine (4 mL), Micro (0.9 mL) |
| Mint Green top bullet | Mint Green | Blood | Micro (0.9 mL) |
Therefore, the TSH test can be collected in Mint Green, Gold, or Red top tubes, depending on the specific type of tube (plasma separator or serum tube) and the volume of blood being collected (routine vs. micro).
