Vacutainers are blood collection tubes which are used by the phlebotomists to collect, store, and transport blood samples. These tubes are extremely convenient to employ and handle due to their smaller size and string build. Being a worldwide leader in blood collection tubes, Beckon, Dickinson, and Company manufacture several different types of BD vacutainers which are used for different purposes. But which features make these tubes superior to other brands?
The following section focuses on the prominent features and advantages of BD vacutainers owing to which these tubes are often chosen for blood collection.
Reasons for Choosing BD Vacutainers
BD vacutainers enjoy superiority over other vacutainer brands due to the following reasons:
1. Compact Size
BD vacutainers are smaller in size. These tubes are easy to store and carry and fit perfectly into the vacutainer holder when a blood sample needs to be drawn. Once the sample has been collected, these tubes are shifted to a stand where a large number of these BD vacutainers can be easily held until they are transported to the testing laboratory.
2. Several Volume Options
BD vacutainers are available in different dimensions as well as volume options. In general, BD vacutainers can hold a blood sample anywhere between the ranges of 2 ml to 15 ml. However, each type of BD vacutainer tube is not available in every volume option. The following table enlists the dimensions as well as volume capacity of BD vacutainers:
| Types of BD Vacutainers | Dimensions (mm) | Volume (ml) |
| Red | 13 x 75 13 x 100 | 4 6 |
| Pink | 13 x 100 | 6 |
| Orange | 13 x 75 | 5 |
| Lavender | 13 x 75 13 x 100 | 3 6 |
| Light Blue | 13 x 75 | 2.7 |
| Royal Blue or Navy | 13 x 100 | 6 |
| Gold | 13 x 75 13 x 100 | 3.5 5 |
| Yellow | 13 x 75 | 3.5 |
| Light Green | 13 x 75 13 x 100 | 2 6 |
| Dark Green | 13 x 75 13 x 75 13 x 100 | 2 4 6 |
| White | 13 x 100 | 5 |
| Grey | 13 x 75 | 2 |
3. Multiple Construction Materials
BD vacutainers are constructed using either glass or plastic. Although both are reliable, the BD vacutainer plastic tubes are often preferred due to the lesser risk of tube breakage.
4. Pre-Sterilized Products
During their manufacturing, BD vacutainers are subjected to sterilization. This ensures that the tubes do not have any kind of active microbial species inside them which could possibly contaminate the collected blood sample and even alter the results of the tests.
5. Pre-filled Additives and Coagulants
BD vacutainers carry specific additives in them which are pre-filled. This pre-filling saves time and allows the medical laboratory technician to conduct the test immediately without further adding any chemical agent.
6. Tightly Closed Closures
The BD vacutainers come with strongly fitted and tightly closed closures which significantly reduce the risk of exposure to the contents of the tubes. Many of these products are also affixed with Hemogard closures which are even stronger than the conventional closure system. Despite their strength, the closures of the BD vacutainers allow the insertion of double-ended needles without any problem.
7. Color-Coded Closures
Apart from being spill and leak-proof, the closure systems of the BD vacutainers are color-coded for easy identification. Vacutainers with different colors have different additives filled in them and are thus used accordingly. The following table enlists the color codes of the BD vacutainers along with their respective additives:
| Color Codes of Different BD Vacutainers | Additives |
| Red | No additive |
| Pink | K2 EDTA |
| Orange | Clot activator and serum-separating gel |
| Lavender | EDTA |
| Light Blue | Sodium citrate |
| Royal Blue or Navy | Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or EDTA |
| Gold | Clot activator and serum-separating gel |
| Yellow | Acid citrate dextrose |
| Light Green | Sodium heparin |
| Dark Green | Lithium heparin and plasma separating gel |
| Tan | Sodium EDTA |
| White | EDTA and separating gel |
| Grey | Sodium fluoride |
| Black | Sodium citrate |
8. Closed System
As in the BD vacutainers, the blood sample is never exposed to the environment due to the closed system, the fluctuations of temperature and other environmental factors do not affect the specimen. This leads to the provision of highly accurate results.
9. Cost-Effective Products
BD vacutainers are not so expensive. These tubes come in a case that contains 10 boxes and each box is usually filled with 100 vacutainer tubes. This way, the buyer pays an overall price of 1000 pieces which is also budget-friendly.
Uses of BD Vacutainers
BD vacutainers can be used to conduct the following tests:
| Type of BD Vacutainers | Respective Tests |
| Red | Serological testing |
| Pink | HIV viral load Direct Coomb’s test Blood typing Cross-matching |
| Orange | Rapid serum separation |
| Lavender | Estimation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) |
| Light Blue | Prothrombin time (PT) Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) |
| Royal Blue or Navy | Analysis of heavy metals Toxicological analysis of trace elements |
| Gold | Serological analysis Endocrine testing |
| Yellow | DNA studies Tissue typing HIV culture test |
| Light Green | Collection and analysis of plasma |
| Dark Green | Chromosome testing HLA typing |
| Tan | Quantification of lead |
| White | PCR analysis |
| Grey | Estimation of glucose |
| Black | Estimation of pediatric ESR |
BD Vacutainers at Health Supply 770: Products and Specifications
BD vacutainers have major applications when it comes to collecting blood samples. These are also ideal for storing the samples until they are transported to the testing laboratory. Due to their strong buildup, these BD vacutainers protect the staff from exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Many different kinds of BD vacutainers are available at Health Supply 770 which have been detailed below along with their prices and purchase links:
BD 367863 Medical Vacutainer EDTA Tubes
$346.88 (Per case or for 1000 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 367863 medical vacutainer spray-coated EDTA tubes have dimensions 13 x 100 mm and their sample holding capacity is up to 6 ml.
· These tubes are also affixed with a Hemogard closure system which is strong and spill-proof.
· The additive in BD 367863 medical vacutainer spray-coated EDTA tubes is dipotassium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid.
· Each tube carries EDTA in a concentration of 10.8 mg.
· A box of EDTA vacutainers contain 1000 BD vacutainers.
· These BD 367863 medical vacutainer spray-coated EDTA tubes are ideal for conducting hematological studies as well as blood donor testing.
BD 367856 Vacutainer Plus Tube Ven
$89.88 (Per case or for 1000 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 367856 vacutainer plus tube ven have lavender-colored caps which are tightly closed.
· The additive in the product is K2 EDTA and its concentration is 5.4 mg.
· These BD vacutainers can carry a blood sample of up to 3 ml.
· The dimensions of BD vacutainer plastic tubes are 13 x 75 mm.
· Their closure system is Hemogard which is strong and leak-proof.
· These BD 367856 vacutainer tubes are good for conducting whole blood hematology.
· In addition, these are also functional in conducting immunohematology as well as blood donor studies.
BD 368380 Vacutainer SPC Plus Venous Blood Collection Tubes
$559.88 (Per case or for a 1000 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 368380 vacutainer SPC plus venous blood collection tubes carry clot activator in them as their additive.
· The dimensions of the tubes are 13 x 100 mm.
· The sample holding capacity of the tubes is up to 6 ml.
· The closure system is Hemogard-based and hence spill-proof. Moreover, these caps are also silicone-coated for extra protection.
· These BD 368380 vacutainer SPC plus venous blood collection tubes are constructed using high-quality plastic.
· The appearance of the tubes is transparent so the inner contents can be examined with the naked eye.
BD 367886 Vacutainer Heparin Venous Blood Collection Tubes
$565.88 (Per case or for a 1000 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 367886 vacutainer heparin-based venous blood collection tubes are a product of BD Medical.
· These BD vacutainers are pre-sterilized and their additive is lithium heparin.
· The additive helps the blood sample to coagulate.
· The dimensions of these vacutainers are 13 x 100 mm.
· As these tubes are made up of medical-grade plastic, the integrity of the sample is ensured.
· Moreover, these are also secure from breakage like the glass vacutainers.
· The sample holding capacity is up to 6 ml.
BD 362760 Vacutainer CPT Molecular Diagnostic Tubes
$899.88 (Per case or for 60 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 362760 vacutainer CPT molecular diagnostic tubes are manufactured and marketed as sterile products.
· For their additive, sodium citrate is added in them in a concentration of 0.45 ml.
· In addition, a serum-separating gel is also added.
· These BD 362760 vacutainer CPT molecular diagnostic tubes are capable of holding up to 4 ml of the blood sample.
· As for their dimensions, these BD vacutainers fall in the range of 13 x 100 ml.
· The color of the closures is black and these are of conventional type.
· The material used for their construction is medical-grade glass.
· These BD vacutainer blood collection tubes are used for plasma examination.
· These are also important for processes like immunotyping, cell function studies, and culture analysis, as well as for testing gene amplification.
BD 367844 Vacutainer Venous Whole Blood Collection Tubes
$525.88 (Per case or for a 1000 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 367844 vacutainer venous whole blood collection tubes are filled with K2 EDTA chemical agent.
· These tubes have dimensions 13 x 75 mm.
· The construction material is medical-grade transparent plastic.
· The amount of blood sample that can be held in these BD vacutainers is up to 4 ml.
· The closures of these vacutainers are lavender in color.
· The closure system is of conventional type.
· Due to being spill-proof, these BD 367844 vacutainer venous whole blood collection tubes protect the healthcare providers against possible transfer of infection.
BD 364816 Vacutainer Venous Blood Collection Tubes
$1,155.88 (Per case or for a 1000 pieces)
Product Details
· BD 364816 vacutainer venous blood collection tubes are constructed using glass.
· These products are completely sterile and come with ACD solution B as their additive.
· The BD 364816 vacutainer venous blood collection tubes can hold a blood sample of up to 6 ml.
· The dimensions of these BD vacutainers are 3 x 100 mm.
· The closure system is leak-proof, yellow in color, and coated with silicone.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
All types of BD vacutainers mentioned in the article, along with many other medical supplies, can be ordered from our website Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the links given in the article to check out the wide range of BD vacutainers.
Takeaway
BD vacutainers are among the products that are vastly needed in medical practice. These are employed for the collection of blood samples which are then safely transported for testing. Due to their prominent features such as tightly-closed Hemogard closures, color-coded caps, and pre-filled additives, as well as cost-effectiveness, these BD vacutainers are excellent for employment in healthcare facilities. Moreover, the products are also suitable for research use.
As there is a frequent need to collect blood samples in a healthcare facility, it is best to keep an ample amount of stock of BD vacutainers. Therefore, for purchasing different kinds of BD vacutainers, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
