The expiration date indicates the shelf life of the product as determined by functional testing. To assure accurate draw and test reliability, tubes must be used by the expiration date. Expiration dates are printed on every BD Vacutainer® Blood Collection Tube and its packaging. The tube expires on the last day of the month printed on the label.

The BD Vacutainer® Plus Plastic Blood Collection Tube is a shatter-resistant plastic blood collection tube developed to provide venous blood specimen collection, transport and processing equivalent to our cenventional glass evacuated tube line. The BD Vacutainer® Plus Plastic Tube is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). They can withstand up to 10,000 RCF in a balanced centrifuge.

BD Vacutainer® Blood Collection Tubes should be stored at 4° - 25°C (39° - 77°F), unless otherwise noted on the package label.

Yes, BD Vacutainer® Blood Collection Tubes have a sterile interior. Tubes are sterilized by gamma radiation.

BD Vacutainer® Tubes are irradiated to achieve sterility. These tubes are sterile on the interior only. We cannot recommend re-sterilizing the tubes, i.e., ETO (ethylene oxide) or autoclaving, primarily due to pressure changes that take place during the re-sterilization cycle. Our tubes are under a specific negative pressure. During the re-sterilization cycle this negative pressure may be disrupted and therefore the tubes may not draw the proper blood volume.

The BD Vacutainer® Safety-Lok™ Blood Collection Set can be used with a syringe when it is used without a luer adapter. The syringe will attach to the female end of the Safety-Lok™ Blood Collection Set. Once the blood has been drawn into the syringe, ensure that the safety mechanism on the winged needle set is properly activated. The use of any needle for the purpose of transferring blood directly from a syringe to a specimen container continues to be prohibited by Federal OSHA.

SST™ refers to the Serum Separator Tube containing clot activator and serum separator gel. PST™ refers to the Plasma Separator Tube containing lithium heparin and plasma separator gel.

BD does not recommend re-centrifuging gel tubes once the barrier has formed. Re-centrifugation could cause cell lysis, resulting in the release of intracellular contents into the serum or plasma.

BD Vacutainer® Plus Plastic Serum Tubes are coated with silicone and micronized silica particles to accelerate clotting. A silicone coating reduces adherence of red cells to tube walls.

The silica particles that coat the walls of the BD Vacutainer® SST™ tube are the clot activator. Initial activation occurs when blood enters the tube and contacts the particles on the tube wall. To continue the activation process, it is necessary to thoroughly mix the blood and particles by inverting the tube five times. The walls of BD Vacutainer® SST™ Serum Separation Tubes are coated with silica particles as a clot activator.

The gel forms a physical barrier between serum or plasma and blood cells during centrifugation. It is important to note that after collection, BD Vacutainer® SST™ Serum Separation Tubes should be inverted five times, allowed 30 minutes clotting time, and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1000-1300 RCF (g) in a swing bucket centrifuge.

The expiration date is stamped on the crimp of the tube and the flap of the carton. (The expiration date is not printed on ALL with Tartar Control because it has a 3-year shelf life).

The 1.8 mL tube has a light blue rubber stopper covered with a translucent shield and the 2.7 mL tube has a light blue rubber stopper covered with a solid light blue shield. We monitor for the following metals in our BD Vacutainer® Blood Collection Tubes: Antimony Arsenic, Cadmium, Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc.

Yes, the BD Vacutainer® K2EDTA Plus Plastic Tube has received routine FDA clearance for red cell grouping, Rh typing, and antibody screening. The differences are the types of closures and the labeling. The lavender stopper can either be rubber or a Hemogard™ closure on a Plus Plastic Tube. Product 367899, a 6 mL Plus Plastic Tube, has a distinct pink Hemogard™ closure and a label that meets the American Association of Blood Banks requirements.

Most BD Vacutainer® Blood Collection Tubes and needles are packaged 100/box and 1,000/case except for the Eclipse needle that is packaged 48/box.

Both the BD Vacutainer® Blood Collection Sets and BD Safety-Lok™ Safety Winged Blood Collection Sets are packaged 50/box and 200/case. Yes, all of these products can be used to administer intravenous fluids or for blood collection procedures. Withdraw the BD Safety-Lok™ blood collection set by grasping the translucent yellow safety shield grip area with the thumb and index finger.

Our frozen products are guaranteed (if kept frozen) for 2 years past the manufacture date. Codes are embossed on the side of each product box. Our grocery products (canned and jarred products) are guaranteed for 36 months past the manufacture date. Codes are imprinted on the top of each product can or jar.

If the strips are not past their expiration date, check to make sure the date on the analyzer is set correctly. To check the date: To change the date, follow steps 1-4 above, but press the "Next" button followed by the "Enter" button to change the date. (Or you can turn the CardioChek off and turn it on and watch the display until the date is displayed.

Our solution has a 12 year shelf life. Just shake it up and pour. Many people order preemptivlely as a head

Depending on the tests your physician ordered, we may need to have several samples of your blood. Each test uses different processes to produce results, so the blood often has to be in separate tubes.