Purple blood bottles are generally used for haematology tests where whole blood is required for analysis. It is important to check local guidelines or discuss with the laboratory if you’re not sure. However, depending on which hospital you work in, preferences may vary between individual laboratories, especially regarding tests performed less frequently. The colours of the vacutainer bottles are standardised. Knowledge of blood bottles is one of those practical things which is poorly taught, if at all! Even though most hospitals now have printable stickers for bottles that tell you which ones to use, it is still vital to understand which bottles are used and why to prevent mistakes and/or awkward phone calls from the laboratory. Knowing which blood bottles to use for different tests is essential in clinical practice.
