BD Vacutainer EDTA Blood Collection Tube (Lavender/Purple — K2EDTA)
Pack Sizes Available
Product Description
Technical Specifications
- Brand and Tube Type: BD Vacutainer; BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company); K2EDTA (dipotassium EDTA) anticoagulant; spray-coated dry EDTA on interior tube walls at 1.8 mg EDTA per ml blood (ISO 6710); lavender BD Hemogard closure; PET plastic construction
- Available Volumes: 2ml (13x75mm) neonatal/paediatric | 3ml (13x75mm) | 4ml (13x75mm) | 6ml (13x75mm) | 10ml (16x100mm); calibrated vacuum draw; volume stated on tube label; K2EDTA amount per tube: 5.4mg (3ml) to 18mg (10ml)
- Additive and Mechanism: K2EDTA (dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid); chelates calcium ions to inhibit calcium-dependent coagulation cascade; anticoagulant of choice for haematology (CBC, differential, blood film, HbA1c, reticulocyte count, haemoglobinopathy screening, DNA extraction)
- Mixing Requirement: Invert gently 8-10 times immediately after collection to dissolve and distribute EDTA uniformly; do not shake vigorously (risk of haemolysis); properly mixed sample should be fully anticoagulated without microclots within 2 minutes of collection
- Regulatory Status: FDA cleared (USA); CE marked; ISO 13485 certified BD manufacturing; ISO 6710 compliant EDTA concentration standard; CDSCO compliant (India); BD Hemogard closure reduces stopper surface blood contact; latex-free; dispose per biohazardous waste protocol
Frequently asked questions
The BD Vacutainer EDTA (lavender/purple) tube is the primary blood collection tube for haematological tests and molecular biology applications. It is used for: Complete Blood Count (CBC) — the most ordered blood test in clinical medicine, including red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count, haematocrit, haemoglobin, and red cell indices; differential white blood cell count (automated and manual); blood film preparation (morphology review); reticulocyte count; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, in some protocols); HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin for diabetes monitoring); haemoglobinopathy screening (HPLC, electrophoresis); malaria thick film, thin film, and antigen tests; blood crossmatch and antibody screening; and DNA extraction for molecular tests including PCR-based infectious disease testing and genetic analysis. EDTA anticoagulation preserves cell morphology and prevents clotting without affecting cell counts or differential distributions.
K2EDTA (dipotassium EDTA) is supplied as a dry spray-coat on the tube wall at 1.8 mg EDTA per millilitre of blood. K3EDTA (tripotassium EDTA) is supplied as a liquid solution inside the tube. Both achieve the same anticoagulant effect by chelating calcium ions. However, the K3EDTA liquid solution slightly dilutes the blood sample (typically 1-3%) and can cause mild erythrocyte shrinkage due to its osmolality, which may affect red cell indices (MCV, MCHC) and haematocrit values. K2EDTA dry spray-coat does not dilute the sample and produces more accurate red cell volume measurements. BD and ISO 6710 recommend K2EDTA at 1.8 mg/ml as the standard for haematological testing. Most modern BD Vacutainer EDTA tubes are K2EDTA; K3EDTA is being progressively phased out of haematology tube specifications.
EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is the preferred anticoagulant for haematological testing for several reasons: EDTA preserves white blood cell morphology — leukocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic features are maintained in EDTA at room temperature for several hours, enabling accurate manual and automated differentials; EDTA prevents platelet clumping — platelets remain countable as individual cells, enabling accurate platelet counts; EDTA does not alter red blood cell volume at the standard 1.8 mg/ml concentration; and EDTA is compatible with all haematology analysers. In contrast: heparin causes leukocyte clumping, produces blue cytoplasmic granularity artefact on blood films, and is unsuitable for differential counting; sodium citrate (blue tube) dilutes the sample 1:9 for coagulation testing and is inappropriate for CBC; and no anticoagulant (plain red/serum tube) allows clotting which destroys cellular elements needed for haematology analysis.
BD recommends inverting the EDTA blood collection tube 8 to 10 times (end-over-end inversions) immediately after collection. This gentle mixing dissolves the dry spray-coated K2EDTA from the tube walls into the blood sample and distributes it uniformly throughout the sample. Complete mixing ensures uniform anticoagulation throughout the tube — inadequately mixed samples may have areas of partial clotting (fibrin microclots) that can clog haematology analyser probes, produce erroneous platelet counts (falsely low due to platelet trapping in microclots), and give inaccurate differential counts. Vigorous shaking should be avoided as it causes haemolysis (red blood cell breakage), which interferes with many measurements and produces a visually pink plasma layer. Gentle end-over-end inversion at the recommended frequency is the correct mixing technique.
Yes, EDTA anticoagulated whole blood is appropriate for blood bank pre-transfusion testing, including ABO blood grouping, Rh typing, antibody screening (indirect antiglobulin test), and crossmatch procedures. EDTA is compatible with the red blood cell wash procedures used in blood bank serology. However, blood bank use of EDTA tubes is subject to specific requirements: samples must be correctly labelled with patient identity per blood bank protocols; samples should be collected within a defined time window before the scheduled transfusion (typically within 72-96 hours for crossmatch validity in patients with no recent transfusion history); and the blood bank laboratory may require a fresh sample if the patient has received a transfusion or is pregnant within the testing validity window. Some blood bank protocols specifically require separate tube collection from the blood bank to distinguish the sample from other laboratory tubes.
BD Vacutainer EDTA tubes are available in multiple draw volumes: 2ml (13x75mm) for neonatal and paediatric collection or low-volume adult tests; 3ml (13x75mm) for paediatric use and tests requiring minimal sample; 4ml (13x75mm) for standard adult CBC and most haematology tests; 6ml (13x75mm) for standard adult haematology with multiple tests from one tube; 10ml (16x100mm) for high-volume adult tests, multiple tests combined, or research applications. The appropriate volume should be selected based on the number and volume requirements of the tests ordered. Under-filling an EDTA tube is problematic — if the blood volume is less than the calibrated draw volume, the EDTA-to-blood ratio exceeds 1.8 mg/ml, causing erythrocyte shrinkage and falsely low haematocrit and MCV. Over-filling produces inadequate EDTA concentration and possible clotting. Paediatric collections should use the smallest appropriate tube to minimise blood volume withdrawn from the patient.
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.