About tubecolors.com
tubecolors.com is a free, ad-free reference for blood draw tube colors, additives, draw volumes, inversions, and the CLSI order of draw. It is built for phlebotomy students, nursing students, lab techs, and anyone who has ever stared at a tray of unfamiliar caps trying to remember which one goes with the CBC.
The site exists because the standard reference material is a blurry handout pinned to the wall of a phlebotomy classroom, and that is not a good source. We wanted a clean, screenshot-ready, print-ready chart that matches actual BD Vacutainer cap colors and explains the why behind the order of draw rather than just listing the tubes.
Curated by the team behind PhleboPrep, an exam prep platform for the NHA CPT, ASCP PBT, AMT RPT, and NCCT NCPT phlebotomy certifications. If you are studying for one of those exams, that is the place to go for practice questions.
Educational reference, not a substitute for facility protocol.
The information here aligns with CLSI H3-A6 and standard BD Vacutainer specifications. Always follow your facility's specific protocol and check current manufacturer instructions for use. This site is not affiliated with Becton, Dickinson and Company, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, or any phlebotomy certifying body.