Which color top tube is used for a routine liver panel?

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A routine liver panel is a chemistry test where the measurements are most reliable on plasma rather than serum, and the tube’s additive should not interfere with enzyme activities. A green-top tube contains heparin, which prevents clotting without introducing chelating or interfering chemicals. This yields plasma quickly and supports accurate enzymatic and metabolite measurements used in liver function tests. In contrast, lavender-top tubes use EDTA, which can bind essential ions and alter enzyme activity; gray-top tubes contain fluoride/oxalate, designed for glucose testing and potentially interfering with some chemistry assays; red-top tubes yield serum after clotting and can introduce slight variability from the clotting process. So, green is the preferred choice for a routine liver panel.