What is the correct order for drawing lab tubes?

The order of drawing lab tubes is crucial for preventing cross-contamination of additives in the different tubes, ensuring accurate lab results. In the correct sequence, serum separator tubes (SST) should be drawn first to allow for clotting and separation of serum. This is essential as it helps to prevent any contamination from anticoagulants found in other tubes.

In this context, lavender tubes, which typically contain EDTA, are designed for hematological tests and should be drawn last to avoid introducing additives into the earlier collected samples. Drawing the SST first minimizes the risk of clots forming in the later drawn tubes due to the additives present in the lavender tube.

Therefore, the correct order to draw the tubes is to start with the SST and finish with the lavender tube. This prioritized sequence helps maintain the integrity of the samples being collected, ensuring that each one is suitable for its intended analysis.