Which type of tubes are used for blood cultures?

Blood culture bottles or tubes are specifically designed for the collection of samples to detect the presence of bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream. These containers create an optimal environment for microorganisms to grow, allowing for accurate detection and identification of infections. The use of specialized blood culture bottles ensures that the samples are kept in a sterile environment, reducing the risk of contamination, which is crucial since external bacteria can lead to false-positive results.

The other types of tubes mentioned serve different purposes. Gold or tiger top tubes, for instance, are generally used for serum tests that require a clot to form before centrifugation, primarily for routine chemistry panels. Light blue tubes contain sodium citrate and are mainly used for coagulation studies, such as prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time tests. Red top tubes may be used for serum tests as well, but they do not have the necessary features to adequately support blood culture analysis. Therefore, blood culture bottles or tubes are the correct choice for collecting blood for cultures to identify infections.