2025-12-15 – Weekly Veterinary Assistant News : Blood tube differences explained

Last week, our forum was bustling with engaging discussions on practical aspects of veterinary assistance. Members shared insights on the proper use of diagnostic tubes, which sparked a lively debate over lab protocols. Another popular thread revolved around techniques for administering medication to anxious animals, with many offering their personal tips and tool recommendations. These conversations highlighted the community’s focus on improving daily practices and patient care.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Quick quiz: green-top vs purple-top tubes
This thread dives into the specifics of two commonly used blood collection tubes. Members are discussing the differences in their applications, aiming to clear up any confusion.
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Go-to tools for calm dosing
Sharing experiences and tools for administering medication to anxious pets, this conversation offers practical solutions and has become a go-to resource for easing dosing stress.
Read more here


Thank you for staying engaged and contributing to the community. Looking forward to more insightful discussions this week!

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Coag panels were all over the place until we started filling blue tops to the line and drawing them first, then 3–4 gentle inversions — underfill skews PT/aPTT; if the vein’s tiny, I’ll draw by syringe but pop a vacutainer on just for the citrate to hit volume. @RileyVA do you handle small cats the same way?

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For stat chem, I grab green-top lithium heparin — no 30‑min clot; about 8 inversions, @Guide, but confirm plasma ranges.

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