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Dear all We use BD Vacutainers, with SST tubes having a gold top. During authorisation of results I identified a GP sample with sodium citrate contamination - turned out that the sample was sent in a Greiner tube (which has a yellow top). I never did find out how this tube came to be in the system. Only this one tube ever surfaced. Regards Ian Ian Hanning Consultant Clinical Biochemist Department of Clinical Biochemistry Hull Royal Infirmary Hull HU3 2JZ UK Tel 01482 607716 Fax 01482 607725 -------------------------------------------- On Thu, 8/13/15, Myers Martin (LTHTR) <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Subject: Re: Blood tube colour conventions To: [log in to unmask] Date: Thursday, August 13, 2015, 2:10 PM I agree that the current state of affairs is confusing, and that the professions should take the lead in lobbying for harmonisation. In the absence of an ISO standard, and (for the UK people) the fact that we are in Europe, I would suggest that the UK should harmonise with the EU code. In the interests of patient safety we should lobby the MHRA or the NPSA to send out an alert to harmonise, allowing the laboratories and the manufacturer time to make the change. martin From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bosomworth Mike (LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST) Sent: 13 August 2015 11:35 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Blood tube colour conventions --- This message was sent from an email address external to NHSmail but gives the appearance of being from an NHSmail (@nhs.net) address. The recipient should verify the sender and content before acting upon information contained within. The identified sender is [log in to unmask] --- In my view as a profession we should take the lead. Marieke has outlined a real problem and Jonathan has said that he found it very confusing. How confusing must it be for our users? If we agree a standard then if a manufacturer refuses to supply it they lose the business. I have experienced changing blood taking systems more than once and yes it is disruptive in the first instance, but not for very long. Any of the good tube suppliers who win new business will help put a training package together. So in my view it can be done. Whether the ACB or the RCPath or the IBMS should take the lead, I am not sure, but they certainly need to collaborate. Perhaps if one of those bodies was to conduct a survey to find out which is the commonest system in use in the UK that would be starting point. Best wishes Mike Dr Mike Bosomworth Clinical Service Lead for Blood Sciences and Specialist Laboratory Medicine Tel: 0113 3922340 Mobile: 07789174344 In April – May I cycled solo from New York to San Francisco (4,320 miles), entirely self-funded, to raise money for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre. If you would like to sponsor me then please visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/mikebosomworth. For more information about the ride and the charity please visit: http://www.ybrc.org.uk/dr-mike-back-on-the-bike/ If you have already sponsored me then many thanks From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Clayton Jonathan (SALFORD ROYAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST) Sent: 13 August 2015 11:05 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Blood tube colour conventions --- This message was sent from an email address external to NHSmail but gives the appearance of being from an NHSmail (@nhs.net) address. The recipient should verify the sender and content before acting upon information contained within. The identified sender is [log in to unmask] --- I think standardisation across the UK is a good idea in theory – having trained in a trust that uses Greiner Vacuette tubes that use the American colour code system to now working in a trust using Sarstedt Monovette tubes which use the EU colour coding system, I got very confused in the early days, particularly around green/orange and blue/green. However, this kind of standardisation would require the co-operation of the tube manufacturers in producing tubes to ‘UK specifications’ if it is the opposite of what they produce as standard. Additionally, standardising to a colour system that resulted in the removal of a particular tube type/manufacturer from the UK market could cause massive upheaval in terms of staff training. Whilst standardisation of tube colour is most definitely desirable, I doubt it is easily practicable. Kind regards, Jonathan Jonathan Clayton Senior Clinical Scientist Department of Clinical Biochemistry Salford Royal Foundation Trust Level 2 Turnberg Building, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD Tel: 0161 206 4960 Email: [log in to unmask] Email: [log in to unmask] Trust values: Patient and Customer Focus Accountability Continuous Improvement Respect From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Reynolds Tim (RJF) BHFT Sent: 13 August 2015 10:21 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Blood tube colour conventions Last year, there were proposals to have an international (ISO / CEN) standard for blood collection tube colours because this problem was recognised [I am a member of the BSI committee that deals with this sort of standard]. The UK was one of the countries that voted in favour but as only 4 countries in total were interested, the bid for a standard falied and the work stream was dropped. It may be that a UK code of practice to standardise a colour code for the UK could be organised through the College - and then have that enforced by UKAS / MHRA... ************************************************************************************** Prof. Tim Reynolds Consultant Chemical Pathologist / Divisional Medical Director (CH&CSS) / R&D Lead, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust work tel: 01283 511511 ext 4035 work fax: 01283 593064 work email: [log in to unmask] work URL: www.burtonhospitals.nhs.uk This e-mail, and any files transmitted with it, are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy this message, delete any copies held on your systems, and notify the sender immediately. You should not retain copy or use this e-mail for any purpose, nor disclose all or any part of its content to any other person. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify me on 01283 511511 Ext 4035 [Picture of tree not available] Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jordaan Marieke Sent: 13 August 2015 10:04 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Blood tube colour conventions Dear all With patients moving between hospitals to have their blood samples taken, bringing electronic request forms which list tube colour as well as type, there is the possibility of wrong sample types being taken if phlebotomists go by the colours that they are familiar with. We are looking at standardizing colours regionally. It appears that around here the system most frequently in use is the American convention (red for clotted, gold for gel, green for heparin, grey for glucose, mauve for EDTA, blue for coag). However, the other colour code commonly in use, is the EU code (clear for clotted, brown for gel, orange for heparin, yellow for glucose, red for EDTA, green for coag). Any thoughts on which we should go for? Regards Marieke Dr Marieke Jordaan Consultant Chemical Pathologist Mid-Yorkshire Trust UK Email: [log in to unmask] Tel: (01924) 317060 or ext 57060 PA, Diane Blakeston: (01924) 317056 or ext 57056 This e mail or any attachments to it may contain legally privileged or confidential data. You should not forward it to anyone without reference to the Trusts Confidentiality and E Mail policies for guidance. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the author immediately by telephone or by replying to this e-mail and then delete all copies of the e-mail on your system. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely on this e-mail. This email or any attachments to it may contain legally privileged or confidential data. 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