Red Clot Activator Blood Collection Tube Technical Specification and Application Guide

Red Clot Activator Blood Collection Tube for Emergency Testing

1. Application Scenarios

The Red Clot Activator Tube (commonly known as the "Red Top Tube") is a core consumable for clinical serum testing. Its wall is coated with clot activators to accelerate blood coagulation. Primary applications include:

• Emergency biochemical testing: Cardiac enzyme panels, liver/kidney function, electrolytes (K⁺/Na⁺/Cl⁻), and other time-sensitive assays

• Immunological and serological analysis: Thyroid function, tumor markers, infectious disease antibody screening (e.g., HIV)

• Metabolic and therapeutic drug monitoring: Blood glucose (requires complementary gray-top glycolytic inhibitor tubes), therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)

Its core value lies in reducing clotting time to 15–20 minutes (vs. ≥60 minutes for natural clotting), significantly improving testing efficiency.

2. Product Highlights and Technical Advantages

Key innovations and advantages of the red clot activator tube:

3. Usage Precautions

Operational compliance is critical for accuracy. Strictly adhere to:

1. Mixing Protocol: Immediately invert tube 5–8 times at 180° after collection to ensure full blood-activator contact and prevent fibrin formation.

2. Temperature Control:

   • Ambient temperature <20°C: Increase inversions to 8–10 times or use a 36°C water bath.

   • Centrifuge at 25°C to avoid gelatinous clots.

3. Clotting Time: Allow 15–20 minutes for complete coagulation before centrifugation (premature spinning causes fibrin threads).

4. Storage & Shelf Life:

   • Refrigerate opened tubes at 4°C; use within 1 week.

   • Discard if activators show granulation, odor, or discoloration.

4. Troubleshooting

Solutions for common issues:

• Fibrin Threads/Gelatinous Clot:
  Cause: Incomplete clotting or premature centrifugation.
  Resolution: Extend room-temperature standing time to 30 min; re-centrifuge. For recurring cases, check activator coating uniformity.

• Mild Hemolysis:
  Cause: Insufficient mixing in cold environments or excessive mechanical agitation.
  Resolution: Use inversion mixing (not shaking); pre-warm tubes to 25°C in cold conditions.

• Insufficient Serum Yield:
  Cause: Underfilled tube (e.g., <2mL in a 3mL tube) or vacuum loss.
  Resolution: Replace tube; verify needle seal integrity.

• Wall Adhesion/Cell Residue:
  Cause: Silicone coating failure or inadequate centrifugation (<3,500 rpm).
  Resolution: Centrifuge at 4,000 rpm × 10 min; use tubes from qualified batches.

• 5. Basic Specifications

Summary

The red clot activator tube is the preferred choice for emergency and biochemical testing due to its rapid clotting, high-purity serum, and broad temperature adaptability. Optimal performance requires strict adherence to mixing protocols, temperature control, and centrifugation timing to avoid fibrin residue or hemolysis. For high-precision tests (e.g., tumor markers), gel-barrier activator tubes (gold cap) are recommended for superior serum quality.

This translation maintains technical accuracy while adapting terminology to international medical standards (e.g., CLSI guidelines). Key metrics (rpm, temperature ranges) and proprietary terms (brand names) are preserved per industry conventions.