What is the purpose of gently inverting blood collection tubes after collection?

Prepare for the CAMLPR Specimen Collection Competency Test. Practice with diverse question sets including multiple-choice and flashcards. Each question includes hints and explanations to help you become proficient before the exam.

Mixing the blood with the tube’s additive is why you gently invert the tube after collection. Tubes contain anticoagulants or clot activators, and inverting distributes the additive evenly so the blood doesn’t clot when it shouldn’t, or so it clots properly when a serum sample is needed. If mixing is uneven, results can be skewed by clumping or partial clotting. Inversion should be gentle and within the recommended number of times to avoid hemolysis. Sealing is done with the cap, cooling is a separate step for certain tests, and expressing air is not the purpose of inversion.