What tests are typically conducted using a red top tube?

The red top tube is primarily used for serum collection, making it ideal for various serology tests and blood banking procedures. These tests often require serum that is free from any anticoagulants or additives that might interfere with the results. The red top tube contains no additives, allowing for the clotting of blood, thus facilitating the separation of serum after centrifugation.

Serology tests assess the presence of antibodies in the serum, which is essential for diagnosing infections and autoimmune diseases. For blood banking, the serum obtained from red top tubes is commonly used for compatibility testing and antibody screening, which are critical steps before blood transfusions.

While glucose and lactic acid tests can be performed using other types of tubes, such as grey top tubes, the coagulation tests typically utilize blue top tubes, and complete blood counts require lavender top tubes that contain EDTA anticoagulant to prevent clotting. Therefore, the versatility of the red top tube for serological applications and blood bank procedures solidifies option C as the correct answer.