Serum-separating tube
A serum-separating tube or serum separator tube (SST) is a test tube used in clinical chemistry tests requiring blood serum.
SSTs are sometimes called "gold-topped tubes", "tiger-tops", or "marble-top tubes", referring to the colored stoppers which are either gold, red with a gold ring on top, or marbled red and grey. Stoppers on SPS (sodium polyanethol sulfonate) tubes have a paler yellow color, sometimes causing confusion; these are known as "yellow tops", not "gold". Trademarked versions of the SST include Covidien "Corvac" tubes.
Features
[edit]The tubes have micronized silica particles which help clot the blood before centrifugation, and a gel at the bottom which separates whole blood cells from serum.[1] Silica nanoparticles induce coagulation through contact activation of coagulation factor XII (Hageman factor).[2] After the blood sample is centrifuged, the clear serum should be removed for testing.[3][4]
Use
[edit]These tubes should be used with care when measuring drug or hormone levels because the drug or hormone may diffuse from the serum into the gel, causing a reduction in measured level. The gel in SST II tubes (which appears slightly less opaque) is supposed [weasel words] to have less effect on drug levels in serum. [citation needed]
Blood samples should be allowed time to form a clot at room temperature for 30–60 min.[5]
CDC recommends a range of time to allow clot formation that was reasonably consistent, from a minimum of 30 min to 60 min maximum.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Greiner Bio-One VACUETTE Z Serum Sep Clot Activator Tubes - Non-ridged (pull cap)". Blood, Hematology and Coagulation Testing Products, Blood Specimen Collection. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
- ^ Ilinskaya AN, Dobrovolskaia MA (June 2013). "Nanoparticles and the blood coagulation system. Part II: safety concerns". Nanomedicine. 8 (6): 969–981. doi:10.2217/nnm.13.49. PMC 3939602. PMID 23730696.
- ^ Mitchell B, Neary M, Kelly G (2003). "Blood sampling in sheep" (PDF). Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-02-03.
- ^ Thavasu PW, Longhurst S, Joel SP, Slevin ML, Balkwill FR (August 1992). "Measuring cytokine levels in blood. Importance of anticoagulants, processing, and storage conditions". Journal of Immunological Methods. 153 (1–2): 115–124. doi:10.1016/0022-1759(92)90313-i. PMID 1381403.
- ^ Tuck MK, Chan DW, Chia D, Godwin AK, Grizzle WE, Krueger KE, et al. (January 2009). "Standard operating procedures for serum and plasma collection: early detection research network consensus statement standard operating procedure integration working group". Journal of Proteome Research. 8 (1): 113–117. doi:10.1021/pr800545q. PMC 2655764. PMID 19072545.
- ^ "Collecting, Preparing, and Shipping Serum Specimens to CDC for Serology Testing" (PDF). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.