These BD Vacutainer® plasma tubes for clinical chemistry are spray-dried with lithium heparin additives. Heparin acts as an anticoagulant by creating a complex with antithrombin III. This complex inhibits thrombin and the activated factor X and thus prevents coagulation.

The optimum anticoagulation is achieved in these tubes by the use of 17 IU pharmaceutical grade heparin per mL of blood. The lithium heparin in BD Vacutainer® tubes is spray dried onto the inner walls to achieve the best possible solubility. For clinical chemistry, lithium heparin is generally preferred over sodium heparin. 

Tube mixing - To avoid micro-clotting, mix the BD Vacutainer® Heparin tube with 8-10 inversions immediately after the blood sample has been taken.

Centrifugation conditions - ≤ 1300 g for 10 minutes at 18-25°C