What Is the Order of Draw Tube Colors in Phlebotomy?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 05, 2020

The order of draw tube colors in phlebotomy is as follows: light blue, red, light green, green, lavender, pink, grey, yellow, dark blue and royal blue. Blood cultures should always be drawn first to avoid causing damage to the cultures.

If the royal blue tube has a red strip on the label, draw it first, followed by the tube with the blue strip. The different colored strips on the royal blue tube labels indicate the additive. The red strip means there is no additive; the additive in the tube with the blue strip label is K2-EDTA, which is a popular anticoagulant.