What is the significance of the separator gel in gold top tubes?

The significance of the separator gel in gold top tubes primarily lies in its ability to separate serum from blood cells after centrifugation. This feature is crucial for ensuring that the serum is isolated from cellular components, which allows for more accurate laboratory analyses. Once the blood sample is drawn and allowed to clot, centrifugation causes the denser cellular components, such as red and white blood cells, to settle at the bottom of the tube, while the serum—which contains the analytes of interest—remains above the gel. The separator gel acts as a physical barrier between the serum and the cellular components, ensuring that they do not mix and that the serum can be easily accessed for testing without further processing. This separation minimizes the risk of hemolysis and contamination, leading to more reliable laboratory results.