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TECHNOTE
CAP COLOR CODINGFor biological samples
“During the collection, processing and storage of samples, sample traceability is crucial. While most laboratories use 1D and 2D barcodes on sample tubes to ensure traceability of samples, cap color inspection will further promote the tube identifica-tion process.”
DURING THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND STORAGE OF SAMPLES, SAMPLE TRACEABILITY IS CRUCIAL. WHILE MOST
LABORATORIES USE 1D AND 2D BARCODES ON SAMPLE TUBES TO ENSURE TRACEABILITY OF SAMPLES, CAP COLOR
INSPECTION WILL FURTHER PROMOTE THE TUBE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS.
CAP COLOR CODING
WWW.MICRONIC.COM INNOVATION IN SAMPLE STORAGE | MICRONIC
Cap color coding in laboratories is particularly useful when used
to distinguish between different types of research purposes. Color
provides a visual clue that works faster than text alone. By adding
cap color coding next to 1D and 2D barcodes, users can speed up
sample storage and retrieval time, eliminate human errors, and
reduce the risk of lost samples.
On a daily basis, large independent laboratories or biobanks
collect, process and store several types of biological samples -
including blood, DNA, tissue, urine or feces. These samples can be
human or animal. Additionally, other samples like plants or seeds
can be collected, processed and stored as well.
Regarding the sample storage process of blood samples - it starts
with blood collection. The commonly used test tubes for collect-
ing high volume blood samples are vacuum containers. These test
tubes have colored caps indicating additives that may have been
added to pre-treat the blood or to preserve it for processing. These
additives may consist of anticoagulants (e.g. ACD, EDTA or Potas-
sium Oxalate), a gel with intermediate density between blood cells
and serum, or substances that preserve certain chemicals or sub-
stances within the blood (e.g. Glucose).
The collected blood samples are used for blood tests and subse-
quent short-term storage (laboratories), or for long-term storage
(biobanks). Mostly for long-term sample storage, the high volume
blood samples are subdivided into several aliquots. This is done to
have backups if an aliquot degrades or is used for research. Since
the aliquots have a smaller volume, they are stored into smaller
2D coded sample storage tubes in 96-well rack format, like those
supplied by Micronic. When the aliquots have been stored into
these types of racked tubes, the 1D rack barcode and 2D tube
codes are scanned (to ensure sample traceability) and then the
samples are stored at low temperatures. The most commonly
used low temperatures are -20°C, -80°C or -196°C.
The transfer of the blood samples from vacuum containers into
smaller sample storage tubes results in the loss of the advantage
of visual identification by cap color. Up until now, no cap color cod-
ing standard exists in the market for sample storage tubes which
is based on the cap colors of sample collection tubes. Therefore,
to still be able to identify the aliquots by cap color inspection or to
ensure that aliquots can be traced back to parent samples, Micro-
nic offers a standard cap color solution for 96-, 48- and 24-format
sample storage tubes. This solution is related to the cap colors
of vacuum containers. To each type of blood sample (i.e. additive
which is present to pre-treat or preserve the blood), a cap color is
assigned. Next to blood samples, the cap color solution can also
be used for other samples (e.g. DNA, tissue, urine, feces, plants or
seeds).
The standard Micronic cap color coding guide for sample stor-
age tubes can be found on the next page.
MICRONIC | INNOVATION IN SAMPLE STORAGE WWW.MICRONIC.COM
Grey
White
Yellow
Orange
Red
Pink
Purple
Blue
Light Blue
Light Green
Green
Black
Potassium oxalate with sodium fluoride
EDTA with gel
Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)
Clot activator and gel for serum separation
Clot activator and no anticoagulants, preservatives, or separator material
EDTA
EDTA
EDTA or plain
Sodium citrate
Lithium heparin and gel separator
Sodium heparin
Sodium citrate ESR
Glucose determinations and some special chemistry tests
Molecular diagnostic tests (PCR)
Blood culture specimen collections in microbiology
Various chemistry, immunology, and serology tests
LDH, ionized Ca, drug, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, osmolality, bone markers and endocrine tests
Preferred for blood banks (transfusion samples)
Hematology (CBC, platelet, sed rate) and chemistry (CD4, CD8, G6PD, hemoglobin A1C) tests
Copper, zinc or trace element deter-minations
PT, PPT, fibrinogen, fibrin D-Dimer, CMV buffy coat and other coagula-tion tests
Plasma determinations inchemistry
Plasma determinations inchemistry
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates
Cap Color
Tissue
Saliva, cerebrospinal and other fluids
Urine and cerethral swabs
Food matters
Chemicals
Breast milk and me-conium
Environmental speci-men
Semen and cervical swabs
Marine and other intact organisms
Seeds
Micro organisms and plant matters
Nail clippings and hair
Blood samples
Additive Research purpose
Other
Sample
WWW.MICRONIC.COM INNOVATION IN SAMPLE STORAGE | MICRONIC
WWW.MICRONIC.COM INNOVATION IN SAMPLE STORAGE | MICRONIC
Micronic Europe
(Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania)
Tel: +31 (0)320 277070
Micronic America
(North, Central and South America)
Tel: +1 484 480 3372
E-mail: [email protected]
www.micronic.com
©2013 Micronic. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change. Please
consult your local sales representative for more details. [PD0801901]
ABOUT MICRONIC
Our goal is to advance research by serving scientists in finding
solutions that contribute to a higher quality of life. We develop and
manufacture a range of Dutch-designed products to enhance the
process of sample preservation and storage.
Micronic is an independent organization with its headquarters
located in Lelystad, the Netherlands. Micronic produces and
assembles its labware in certified Class 7 clean rooms which
are located in the Netherlands and the United States. Its labware
equipment is also assembled inhouse.
Micronic is an ISO 9001 and 14001 certified company. The Micro-
nic sales, marketing and product support is organized at two sales
offices: Micronic America LLC and Micronic Europe BV. The prod-
ucts are applied worldwide in the (research) laboratories of univer-
sity hospitals, forensics, agricultural, veterinary and governmental
institutes, as well as companies in biotech, food, chemical and
pharmaceutical industries.