What Do PRP Tube Cap Colors Mean?
Author: Clinimate Medikal (corporate content)
· Updated:
On blood collection tubes, the cap color is used to identify the additive inside the tube at a glance. Colors can, however, differ between manufacturers; when choosing a tube, always go by the additive printed on the label and the product's instructions for use.
Common cap colors and additives
The table below summarizes the color and additive pairs in BD's tube guides.
| Cap color (BD) | Additive | Laboratory use |
|---|---|---|
| Light blue | Sodium citrate | Coagulation tests (PT/INR, D-dimer) |
| Red | No additive | Serum tests, serology, blood bank |
| Gold (SST) | Clot activator + separator gel | Serum tests in chemistry |
| Green | Lithium heparin | Plasma tests in chemistry |
| Lavender / purple | K2 EDTA | Complete blood count and hematology |
| Grey | Sodium fluoride (with EDTA or oxalate) | Glucose and lactate |
When several tubes are drawn, an order of draw is followed so additives are not carried from one tube to the next. In BD's guide the order is blood culture, sodium citrate, serum (SST), EDTA and fluoride; in practice your laboratory's written order applies.
PRP tubes have no color standard
PRP tubes are not tied to this scheme; the cap color depends on the manufacturer. What matters is the content. For example, the tubes described in Regen Lab's FDA 510(k) summary are evacuated glass tubes containing a thixotropic separator gel with a sodium citrate anticoagulant above it, and up to 10 mL of blood is collected per tube. The centrifuge settings are given in the instructions for use.
What to check when buying PRP tubes
| Information | Where it is stated |
|---|---|
| Anticoagulant type (e.g. sodium citrate) | Tube label and instructions for use (IFU) |
| Whether there is a separator gel | Product description and IFU |
| Blood volume per tube | IFU |
| Centrifuge setting (g-force and time) | IFU |
| Storage conditions and expiry date | Packaging |
| CE marking and ÜTS registration | Certificate and ÜTS lookup |
Wholesale supply
Clinimate supplies PRP kits and tubes wholesale to clinics, hair transplant centers and medical aesthetic centers. Share the centrifuge you use, your preferred tube type and your monthly application count, and we will prepare an itemized quote the same day. Get a quote or message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PRP tube the same as a regular blood tube?
No. PRP tubes are designed to prepare platelet-rich plasma; Regen Lab tubes, for example, contain a separator gel together with sodium citrate. Standard chemistry and blood count tubes contain different additives.
How many ml is a PRP tube?
It depends on the manufacturer; according to Regen Lab's FDA 510(k) summary, for example, up to 10 mL of blood is collected per tube. Check the exact volume in the product's instructions for use.
Can you choose a tube by its cap color?
Not on its own; colors can vary between manufacturers. Go by the additive on the label and the instructions for use.
Sources
Technical details are based on the manufacturer documents and official sources below. For exact values for a given product, the product's instructions for use (IFU) and technical data sheet apply.
- BD Vacutainer Tube Guide & Recommended Order of Draw — BD / North Bristol NHS Trust
- BD Microtainer Tubes with Microgard Closure: Tube Guide and Order of Draw — BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
- 510(k) Summary: RegenBMC (RegenKit-THT-BMC) — RegenLab USA / FDA
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