Which color top tube is EDTA typically found in?

EDTA, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is an anticoagulant commonly used in blood collection tubes to prevent clotting. The color that is universally associated with EDTA tubes is purple, which indicates that the tube contains EDTA as an additive. This type of tube is primarily used for hematological tests, such as complete blood counts (CBC), because the anticoagulant preserves the cellular components of the blood and allows for accurate analysis.

The choice of color coding for laboratory tubes, including those with EDTA, helps ensure that healthcare professionals can easily identify the contents and appropriate use of the tubes. In this case, purple tubes are specifically designed to contain EDTA, making them the correct choice. Other colors correspond to different additives: for example, green tubes contain heparin, red tubes often contain no additives for serum collection, and yellow tubes may contain various substances for different tests.