What is the color of the tube that typically contains Sodium Fluoride?

The correct answer is gray, as this is the color of the tube that typically contains Sodium Fluoride. Sodium Fluoride is commonly used as a preservative for glucose samples and helps maintain glucose stability during transportation and storage. When a gray-top tube is used, it often contains additives like Sodium Fluoride and sometimes Potassium Oxalate, which assist in preventing glycolysis—the breakdown of glucose by cells—thus ensuring accurate test results for glucose levels.

Choosing the gray tube is essential in phlebotomy procedures when glucose testing is required, as using the correct tube prevents contamination and degradation of the sample. Each color-coded tube serves a specific purpose in laboratory testing, which is crucial for healthcare professionals to understand to ensure the integrity of the samples collected.