Sodium Citrate ESR Blood Collection Tube with Screw Cap

ESR Blood Collection Tubes: Professional Solution for Clinical Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Testing By Orsin

1 Application Scenarios: Precision Monitoring of Inflammation and Disease Activity

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) blood collection tubes are critical tools in clinical laboratories for screening and monitoring inflammatory and infectious diseases. Their core function is to standardize the collection of anticoagulated venous blood samples to ensure accurate measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation velocity. These specialized vacuum tubes are primarily used with automated ESR analyzers (e.g., ESR-2040, SD-1000, BK-ESR20), enabling healthcare facilities to perform ESR testing efficiently.

In clinical diagnostics, ESR testing provides multifaceted value:

• Inflammatory disease monitoring: Serves as a sensitive indicator for inflammation caused by rheumatic immune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), tuberculosis, and tissue damage. ESR elevation often precedes specific clinical manifestations.

• Diagnostic support: Functions as a non-specific auxiliary marker for infectious diseases (e.g., pneumonia, endocarditis), hematological disorders (e.g., multiple myeloma), and malignancies, providing screening clues.

• Treatment evaluation: Dynamic ESR tracking assesses the efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapies, anti-infective treatments, or chemotherapy, guiding clinical adjustments.

2 Product Highlights: Technological Innovations Ensure Precision and Efficiency

ESR tubes overcome limitations of traditional ESR testing—such as operational complexity, biohazard risks, and result variability—through multiple technological innovations, delivering safer and more reliable sample collection for modern laboratories.

Table: Core Technical Advantages and Clinical Value of ESR Tubes

Three technological breakthroughs deserve special emphasis:

1. Vacuum-sealed system: Precisely calibrated negative pressure enables automatic blood volume aspiration, eliminating volume errors or bubble formation in open systems. Post-collection, blood remains in a closed environment, fundamentally preventing biohazard exposure.

2. Specialized anticoagulant formulation: Sodium citratechelates calcium ions to block coagulation cascades without affecting erythrocyte aggregation. Liquid anticoagulant is pre-coated uniformly on tube walls for instant mixing.

3. Optical compatibility: Tubes are manufactured from high-transparency glass/polymer with standardized diameter, ensuring perfect alignment with photometric scanning systems (infrared/laser detection) in automated analyzers for millisecond-level sedimentation monitoring and extended parameters (e.g., dynamic sedimentation curves, Vm values).

3 Usage Precautions: Standardized Operations Ensure Quality

3.1 Blood Collection Accuracy

• Precise blood volume: Fill to marked fill line. Deviations >±5% cause anticoagulant imbalance, significantly altering sedimentation rates. Validate local reference ranges in high-altitude areas due to atmospheric pressure effects.

• Venipuncture technique: Keep patient's arm downward and tube port upward to prevent blood reflux. Position needle bevel against tube wall for smooth blood flow, avoiding erythrocyte impact-induced mechanical hemolysis.

3.2 Mixing Protocol

• Mixing method: Gently invert 5-10 times (180° rotation) immediately post-collection. Avoid vigorous shaking to prevent platelet activation or hemolysis. Inadequate mixing causes microclots that disrupt sedimentation.

3.3 Testing Timeline

• Detection window: Complete testing within 2 hours of collection. Delays alter erythrocyte morphology and reduce sedimentation rates. If unavoidable, store vertically at 15-25°C—never refrigerate (cold accelerates sedimentation).

3.4 Collection Sequence

• Multi-tube priority: Follow international contamination sensitivity sequence: Blood culture bottles → Coagulation tubes (blue cap) → ESR tubes (black cap) → Heparin tubes (green cap) → EDTA tubes (purple cap) → Glycolytic inhibitor tubes (gray cap). Prevents anticoagulant cross-contamination, especially EDTA interference in coagulation tests.

3.5 Storage & QC

• Storage conditions: Unused tubes require 4-25°C避光保存, protected from freezing (causes stopper cracks/anticoagulant crystallization). Inspect anticoagulant for uniformity—discard if precipitate/floccules appear.

4 Troubleshooting: Problem Resolution

Address common technical issues promptly to ensure testing success:

• Underfilled tubes: Caused by insufficient venous pressure or vacuum loss. Solution: Remove tube, use syringe to withdraw air via stopper to restore vacuum, or replace tube. Never inject air forcibly.

• Blood flow interruption: Needle bevel against vein wall or venous collapse. Solution: Adjust needle angle or apply distal venous pressure. If vacuum depleted, replace tube.

• Leakage: Compromised needle holder gasket. Solution: Pre-collection integrity check; replace components if damaged.

• Hemolysis risk: Rapid inflow (>1ml/sec) causes impact hemolysis. Solution: Angle tube so blood flows along wall; use smaller-gauge needles (e.g., 23G) for viscous blood.

• Incomplete mixing: Visible anticoagulant droplets post-inversion. Solution: Rotate horizontally for 10 seconds; confirm homogeneity before testing.

5 Technical Specifications

Standardized design ensures compatibility across testing environments:

• Physical Parameters:

  • Material: High-purity glass or PET polymer (>90% light transmittance)

  • Stopper: Internationally standardized black

• Anticoagulant System:

  • Anticoagulant: Sodium citrate

  • Format: Liquid pre-fill, 0.32ml or 0.4ml

  • Total volume: 1.28ml (with 0.32ml anticoagulant) or 1.6ml (with 0.4ml anticoagulant)

• Performance Metrics:

  • Anticoagulant ratio: 1:4 (anticoagulant:blood)

  • Shelf life: 18 months at ambient temperature (intact packaging)

  • Centrifugation tolerance: ≥3000×g (validate polymer tube strength)

• Compatible Systems:

  • Automated ESR analyzers: Tianhai ESR-2040 (40-position), Succeeder SD-1000 (100-sample), Biobase BK-ESR20 (20 tests/hour)

  • Traditional Westergren racks: ICSH-compliant

  • LIS/HIS integration: Barcode scanning support

As essential vessels for precision medicine, ESR tubes ensure sample integrity from patient to analyzer. Their biosafety advantages and workflow efficiency will grow increasingly vital with automated ESR adoption. Laboratories should prioritize verification of system compatibility and lot-to-lot precision when selecting products, ensuring this classic inflammatory marker continues to deliver irreplaceable value in modern healthcare.