American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam

Which tubes are used for serum tests and what department do they go to?

1. Blue and Green tubes to the Hematology department

2. Red, Gold, and Tiger Top to the Chemistry department

3. Lavender tubes to the Microbiology department

4. Gray tubes to the Blood Bank department

The correct answer is: Red, Gold, and Tiger Top to the Chemistry department

The selection of red, gold, and tiger top tubes for serum tests is correct because these tubes are specifically designed to facilitate the separation of serum from blood samples. Red top tubes contain no additives, allowing the blood to clot naturally, making them suitable for serum collection. Gold and tiger top tubes have a gel separator that also supports serum separation following centrifugation, making them ideal for tests that evaluate biochemical substances. These tubes are sent to the Chemistry department, where numerous tests are performed on the serum to analyze various constituents such as electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, and other important indicators of health. This department is responsible for conducting a variety of laboratory tests, which typically utilize serum samples drawn in these specific tube types. The incorrect choices involve tubes that are assigned to departments unrelated to serum testing. For example, blue tubes are used for coagulation studies, lavender tubes are primarily for hematology tests, and gray tubes are used for specific glucose tests, typically sent to the chemistry department as well, but not for serum testing specifically.