BD Vacutainer Citrate Tube (Light Blue — Sodium Citrate, Coagulation Testing)
Pack Sizes Available
Product Description
Technical Specifications
- Brand and Product: BD Vacutainer Plus Plastic Citrate Tube; BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company); light blue BD Hemogard closure (2.7ml) or clear Hemogard closure (1.8ml); globally the #1 choice in citrate tubes by laboratory professionals for over 75 years
- Additive: 3.2% buffered sodium citrate (0.109M, equivalent to 3.2% concentration); calcium chelator for coagulation cascade arrest; blood-to-citrate ratio 9:1 (critical requirement per NCCLS H1-A4); liquid citrate in inner polypropylene tube minimises headspace
- Available Sizes: 1.8ml (13x75mm, REF 363080, clear Hemogard) | 2.7ml (13x75mm, REF 363083, light blue Hemogard) | 2.7ml (13x17mm, REF 366560, light blue Hemogard, mini-format); 360° etched fill indicator on tube body marking minimum fill level
- Tube Construction: PET (polyethylene terephthalate) outer tube — virtually break-resistant; polypropylene inner tube — non-activating surface retains liquid additive; minimises tube headspace across both volumes; latex-free; no TBEP in stopper; gamma radiation sterile interior
- Mixing and Centrifugation: Invert gently 3-4 times immediately after collection; do NOT combine two partially filled tubes or fill from other tubes; centrifuge at ≤1300 RCF for 10 minutes (non-gel coagulation tube); platelet-poor plasma achieved at 1500 RCF x 15 min per CLSI H21-A5
Frequently asked questions
The BD Vacutainer Citrate Tube (light blue top) is the standard collection tube for coagulation testing. It contains 3.2% buffered sodium citrate (0.109M), which acts as an anticoagulant by chelating (binding) calcium ions, thereby inhibiting the calcium-dependent coagulation cascade and preserving the patient's clotting factors in their collected state. Tests performed on citrate tube samples include: Prothrombin Time (PT) and INR (used to monitor warfarin and liver function); Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT); fibrinogen level; D-dimer; individual clotting factor assays (Factor VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, von Willebrand Factor); antithrombin; protein C and protein S; lupus anticoagulant testing; and mixing studies. The light blue colour coding is the internationally recognised standard designation for sodium citrate coagulation tubes under CLSI and ISO colour coding guidelines.
The coagulation testing methodology requires a precise 9:1 blood-to-citrate ratio. This means 9 parts blood must mix with exactly 1 part sodium citrate solution for valid test results. Under-filling (drawing less blood than the calibrated tube volume) results in a disproportionately high concentration of citrate relative to blood, which can cause falsely prolonged PT and APTT results. Over-filling (possible with improper technique) results in inadequate anticoagulation. BD addresses this by designing the tube with a calibrated vacuum to draw the exact specified volume and adding a 360° etched fill indicator ring on the tube body to confirm adequate fill. If a tube does not fill to at least the fill indicator level, it should be discarded and a new tube drawn. BD explicitly states in their Volume Guide that tubes must fill within ±10% of stated draw volume per NCCLS H1-A4 guidelines.
BD Vacutainer Citrate Tubes are available in two draw volumes: 1.8ml (13x75mm, clear Hemogard closure, REF 363080) and 2.7ml (13x75mm, light blue Hemogard closure, REF 363083). Both volumes are 13x75mm externally due to varying internal diameters, maintaining uniform tube handling dimensions. The 2.7ml tube is the standard format for routine adult coagulation testing — the slightly larger volume allows testing of multiple coagulation parameters from one draw. The 1.8ml tube is used in paediatric venepuncture, difficult veins where draw volume is limited, and point-of-care settings where smaller sample volumes are preferred. CLSI guidelines specify that both formats maintain the same 9:1 blood-to-citrate ratio at their respective fill volumes.
A discard tube (a tube drawn and discarded without use for testing) may be required in specific situations before drawing a citrate coagulation tube. BD's own Volume Guide states that if only a citrate tube is to be drawn using a butterfly needle (winged blood collection set), a discard tube without additives must be used first. This is because the dead-space volume of the butterfly tubing may contain air or an inadequate blood-air mixture that causes the citrate tube to under-fill. When using a standard multisample needle and Vacutainer holder (not a butterfly), a discard tube is generally not required before the citrate tube if it is the first or only tube drawn. Each laboratory should follow current CLSI H3-A6 and H21-A5 guidelines for venepuncture order of draw and discard tube requirements.
BD specifies that the citrate tube should be gently inverted 3 to 4 times immediately after blood collection, as stated in their official Volume Guide. This gentle mixing dissolves the liquid sodium citrate additive uniformly throughout the blood sample, ensuring complete and even anticoagulation. The inversions must be gentle end-over-end movements — vigorous shaking risks haemolysis and platelet activation, both of which would interfere with coagulation test results. The tube should not be inverted fewer times (risk of incomplete mixing and partial coagulation) or more times than recommended.
BD Vacutainer Plus Plastic Citrate Tubes (PET construction) with BD Hemogard closure do not contain TBEP (tributyl phosphate, a plasticiser) in the stoppers, as confirmed in BD product literature. The BD Hemogard closure is designed to avoid direct blood contact on the stopper surface and does not contain natural rubber latex. The PET plastic tube body is latex-free. For patients with documented latex allergy, the BD Vacutainer Plus Plastic Citrate Tubes with Hemogard closure are appropriate. Always check the most current product labelling and package insert for the specific lot being used, as formulations may be updated.
Microlisa HIV Ag & Ab 4th Generation ELISA Test Kit
Blood screening exists in a category of laboratory work where the margin for error is not just professionally unacceptable but medically catastrophic. A false negative in HIV screening does not just fail a test. It compromises patient safety, undermines transfusion protocols, and exposes healthcare systems to risks that nobody wants to calculate. Microlisa HIV Ag & Ab 4th Generation ELISA was engineered to close the detection window that makes early HIV infection so difficult to identify reliably. This is an in-vitro qualitative enzyme immunoassay designed for simultaneous detection of antibodies to HIV-1 (including Group O and subtype C prevalent in India), HIV-2, and HIV-1 p24 antigen in human serum or plasma. The test is intended for screening of blood donors, diagnostic testing of individuals at risk for HIV infection, and clinical evaluation of patients with AIDS-related symptoms. It represents the fourth generation of HIV ELISA technology, which detects both antibodies and antigens simultaneously rather than antibodies alone. The clinical advantage of 4th generation testing is the shortened window period. Traditional antibody-only tests miss early seroconversion cases where HIV-1 p24 antigen is present but antibodies have not yet developed to detectable levels. By detecting p24 antigen during the acute infection phase (typically 2 to 4 weeks post-exposure), this assay identifies infections approximately 1 to 2 weeks earlier than 3rd generation antibody-only tests. That earlier detection matters critically in blood donor screening and post-exposure monitoring. The assay is based on sandwich ELISA methodology. Microtiter wells are pre-coated with HIV envelope proteins (gp41, C-terminus of gp120 for HIV-1, and gp36 for HIV-2) and anti-p24 monoclonal antibodies. When specimens are added, any HIV antibodies or p24 antigen present bind to the coated antigens or antibodies. After washing, horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) conjugated antigens and anti-p24 antibodies are added, forming a sandwich complex. The colorimetric reaction develops proportionally to the amount of HIV antibodies or antigen present, read at 450nm absorbance. The kit uses color-coded reagents to monitor procedural steps, reducing protocol errors during multi-step workflows. Breakaway microwell strips allow testing flexibility from single specimens to full 96-well plate runs. Storage stability is maintained at 2-8°C with a shelf life of 24 months unopened. Total assay time including incubation steps is approximately 120 minutes. Sensitivity and specificity meet international standards for 4th generation HIV screening. Clinical evaluations demonstrate 100% sensitivity in detecting seroconversion panels and p24 antigen standards quantified down to 200 pg/ml. Specificity exceeds 99.5% when tested against large sample populations. The test detects all major HIV-1 subtypes including Group O and subtype C, which are epidemiologically significant in the Indian subcontinent. For distributors supplying blood banks, transfusion centers, diagnostic laboratories, and public health screening programs, Microlisa HIV Ag & Ab represents a clinically validated 4th generation screening platform with predictable reorder cycles. Sara Wellness has been exporting in-vitro diagnostic kits and laboratory reagents from India for 15 years.
Advantage PAN Malaria Card Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit
Malaria diagnosis in endemic regions operates under time pressure that microscopy cannot always accommodate. A patient presenting with fever in a rural health center at midnight does not have the luxury of waiting until morning for a trained microscopist to arrive, prepare slides, and spend twenty minutes examining blood films under oil immersion. That delay can mean the difference between timely artemisinin treatment and cerebral malaria developing overnight. Advantage PAN Malaria Card was designed to deliver species-level diagnosis in settings where microscopy is impractical or unavailable. This is a rapid visual immunoassay for qualitative detection of all four human Plasmodium species (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale) based on pan-specific plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) antigen in whole blood. The test provides results within 20 minutes using a simple fingerstick blood sample, no laboratory equipment required, making it ideal for point-of-care testing in primary health centers, rural clinics, field hospitals, and outbreak response settings. The assay is based on sandwich immunochromatography using monoclonal antibodies specific to pLDH, an enzyme produced by all Plasmodium species during their erythrocytic life cycle. When infected blood is added to the test device and assay buffer is applied, red blood cells lyse and pLDH antigen (if present) binds to gold-conjugated anti-pLDH antibodies. This complex migrates along the nitrocellulose membrane and is captured by immobilized anti-pLDH antibodies at the test line, producing a visible pink-purple band that confirms malaria infection. The see-through device design allows direct visualization of sample migration and result development, which helps identify invalid tests caused by insufficient sample volume or improper application. This transparency reduces the ambiguity that plagues some lateral flow devices where internal workings are hidden. Sensitivity and specificity have been validated through WHO malaria RDT evaluation programs using panels of wild and cultured parasites. The test detects parasitemia levels above 100 parasites per microliter of blood for both P. falciparum and P. vivax, which is clinically relevant for symptomatic infections requiring treatment. Specificity exceeds 99% when tested against cross-reactive conditions including dengue, leptospirosis, typhoid, and other febrile illnesses common in malaria-endemic areas. Shelf life is 24 to 30 months when stored at 4-30°C, which is critical for stockpiling in tropical climates where cold chain infrastructure is unreliable. The extended temperature stability means the test remains functional even when stored at ambient temperatures in resource-limited settings. Each kit contains individually sealed test devices, buffer vials, blood collection pipettes, and instructions for use. The test requires no special training beyond basic clinical skills and can be performed by nurses, paramedics, or trained community health workers. For distributors supplying national malaria control programs, public health departments, NGO field operations, and private diagnostic laboratories, Advantage PAN Malaria Card represents a WHO-evaluated rapid diagnostic platform with predictable consumption tied to malaria case loads. Sara Wellness has been exporting rapid diagnostic test kits and laboratory reagents from India for 15 years.
Human Serum Coombs Antisera (Antihuman Globulin Reagent)
Blood banking operates on a fundamental requirement that most people never think about until something goes wrong. Every unit of blood transfused must be confirmed compatible with the recipient's immune system. Every pregnant woman screened for antibodies that could harm her unborn child. Every suspected case of hemolytic anemia investigated for antibodies attacking the patient's own red blood cells. None of this happens without Coombs antisera making the invisible antibodies visible. Human Serum Coombs Antisera is the reagent that makes antiglobulin testing possible in blood banks and immunohematology laboratories worldwide. This is antihuman globulin (AHG) reagent used in both direct and indirect antiglobulin tests (Coombs tests) to detect antibodies and complement components bound to red blood cell surfaces or present free in serum. The reagent is produced by immunizing animals (typically rabbits) with human immunoglobulins, which induces production of polyclonal antibodies specific for human IgG antibodies and complement factor C3d. When added to washed red blood cells coated with IgG or complement, the antihuman antibodies bind to the human antibodies and form bridges between adjacent sensitized cells, causing visible agglutination. The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) detects antibodies or complement already bound to red blood cell surfaces in vivo. This test is critical for diagnosing autoimmune hemolytic anemia, investigating hemolytic transfusion reactions, and diagnosing hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. The indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) detects free antibodies circulating in serum or plasma. This test is essential for pre-transfusion antibody screening, crossmatching blood units for compatibility, and prenatal antibody screening in pregnant women. Polyspecific Coombs antisera (like the green-colored reagent shown) contains antibodies against both IgG and C3d complement, providing broad-spectrum detection. When the polyspecific reagent produces a positive result, monospecific antisera (anti-IgG alone or anti-C3d alone) are used for follow-up testing to characterize whether red cells are coated with IgG antibodies, complement, or both. This differentiation is clinically important because it helps determine the cause and clinical significance of the positive test. The reagent is typically dyed green using patent blue and tartrazine to allow easy visual identification during laboratory workflows where multiple reagents are used simultaneously. Storage at 2-8°C maintains reagent potency until the expiration date printed on the bottle, typically 18 to 24 months from manufacture. The reagent contains sodium azide (0.1% w/v) as a preservative, which inhibits bacterial growth but requires careful handling and disposal. Each dropper bottle delivers approximately 40 microliters per drop, allowing precise volumetric dosing during testing. The reagent must not be diluted and should not be used if turbid, as turbidity indicates bacterial contamination or protein aggregation that will compromise test performance. For distributors supplying blood banks, hospital transfusion services, reference immunohematology laboratories, and donor screening centers, Coombs antisera represents an essential reagent with consumption directly tied to transfusion volume and prenatal screening programs. Sara Wellness has been exporting immunohematology reagents and blood banking supplies from India for 15 years.