What is included in the SST (serum separator tube) golden and tiger tubes?

The serum separator tube (SST), commonly known as the golden or tiger-top tube, is designed specifically to collect blood samples and facilitate the separation of serum from blood cells after clotting. The correct answer highlights that these tubes contain serum with a clot activator.

The clot activator in the SST promotes the coagulation of blood, leading to the formation of a gel barrier that separates serum from the cells after centrifugation. When blood is collected in an SST, it is allowed to clot, and upon spinning in a centrifuge, the liquid portion, which is serum, is separated and can be easily retrieved for diagnostic testing.

This design is essential for many laboratory tests that require serum because it ensures that the sample is free from cellular components, allowing for more accurate results. The presence of the clot activator is critical, as it ensures complete clotting occurs, which is necessary for the effective separation of serum.

In contrast, whole blood, plasma with anticoagulants, and lyophilized plasma do not apply to the characteristics of SST tubes. Whole blood would require tubes with anticoagulants to prevent clotting, while plasma with anticoagulants is collected in different types of tubes meant for tests that use plasma, not serum