What type of tube is used for drawing blood for glycated hemoglobin testing?

Testing for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is an important indicator for assessing long-term blood glucose control, especially in diabetic patients. From a professional standpoint, this test typically involves collecting blood using a purple-top anticoagulant tube (EDTA-K2 tube).

This is because the measurement of glycated hemoglobin requires prevention of red blood cell rupture. The purple-top anticoagulant tube effectively prevents this situation. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is an effective anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting while maintaining the integrity of red blood cells, which helps ensure accurate HbA1c measurements.

Using EDTA anticoagulant tubes can avoid test result inaccuracies caused by blood coagulation or red blood cell damage. It is worth noting that after sample collection, specimens should be sent for testing as soon as possible to minimize any changes during specimen handling and thereby ensure the reliability of the test results.

In addition, laboratory technicians should also follow strict operating procedures when handling specimens. If fasting blood glucose or other related tests are not being performed simultaneously, patients do not need to fast for the glycated hemoglobin test.