What is the result if a lavender top tube is not inverted immediately?

When a lavender top tube, which typically contains EDTA as an anticoagulant, is not inverted immediately after blood collection, the anticoagulant may not fully mix with the blood. This can lead to the formation of clots within the sample. Clots can significantly affect test results, particularly for tests that require whole blood or plasma, such as complete blood counts (CBC).

If blood begins to clot in the tube, it can result in inaccurate readings, including artificially elevated or lowered cell counts, skewed hemoglobin or hematocrit values, and unreliable platelet counts. Therefore, it is crucial to invert the tube several times immediately after collection to ensure proper mixing and prevent clot formation that could compromise the integrity of the sample and the accuracy of laboratory results.