K2 (dipotassium) is a liquid additive, K3 (tripotassium) is spray-dried powder. Most US labs use K2 for better mixing and slightly more accurate cell counts. Check your analyzer's specifications - some older models calibrate specifically for one or the other.

Yes, VISIO PLUS needles fit standard vacuum tube holders including QuickShield safety holders. The transparent hub doesn't affect compatibility - it just makes your job easier by confirming venous access instantly.

Butterflies for: hand/wrist draws, pediatrics, elderly patients, chemo patients, anyone with fragile or rolling veins. Straight needles for: antecubital draws on healthy adults with good access. Butterflies cost more but reduce failed attempts.

Yes. EVOPROTECT safety sets contain no natural rubber latex and no DEHP plasticizers. Safe for patients with latex allergies and facilities avoiding endocrine-disrupting compounds.

Very strictly for citrate tubes (coagulation) - any contamination invalidates results. Somewhat flexible for routine chemistry and hematology if your lab has validated alternative sequences. When in doubt, follow CLSI guidelines.

MiniCollect® tubes come in 0.25 mL, 0.5 mL, and 1.0 mL sizes with all major additives. Pair with safety lancets for heel sticks or finger sticks. Same color coding as full-size tubes, just scaled for tiny humans.

For daily draws, almost nothing. All use the same color coding, same vacuum principle (except Sarstedt's aspiration option), same additives. The real differences: safety activation methods (BD's push-button vs Greiner's sliding shield), price (Greiner runs 30-40% less), and availability (BD often backordered, Greiner ships from stock). Sarstedt requires different technique if using aspiration mode. Terumo mainly competes on butterfly sets, limited tube selection.

For daily draws, almost nothing. All use the same color coding, same vacuum principle (except Sarstedt's aspiration option), same additives. The real differences: safety activation methods (BD's push-button vs Greiner's sliding shield), price (Greiner runs 30-40% less), and availability (BD often backordered, Greiner ships from stock). Sarstedt requires different technique if using aspiration mode. Terumo mainly competes on butterfly sets, limited tube selection.

A safety set has a built-in mechanism to cover the contaminated needle after use. The difference is when and how: Greiner's EVOPROTECT activates while still in the vein (safer), BD's push-button activates after withdrawal, Terumo's Surshield wings flip forward. All meet OSHA requirements, but in-vein activation reduces the exposure window between withdrawal and protection.

Match by: tube size (mL), additive type (not just color), and cap type (regular vs safety). Example: BD 367861 (4mL EDTA) = Greiner 454236. Your local sales rep can provide a complete cross-reference sheet.

Check these five things: (1) Additive concentration - must match your analyzer settings, (2) Draw volume - affects dilution ratios, (3) Separator gel type if applicable - some gels interfere with specific assays, (4) Stopper design - pierceable vs pop-top affects your automation, (5) Label area - enough space for your barcodes. Everything else is basically identical across major brands.

Tubes typically come 100 per tray, 10 trays per case (1,000 tubes). Minimum order is one case. Butterflies pack 50 per box, 4 boxes per case (200 units). Some specialty tubes have different counts. We can break cases for initial trials, but case quantities get you the best pricing. Your sales rep can set up custom kitting if you need specific ratios.

Essential kit: tubes for your five most common tests (SST, EDTA, citrate, culture, urine), 21G and 23G butterflies, straight needles, holders, tourniquets, gauze, tape, alcohol pads, sharps container, gloves in S/M/L, labels, requisition forms, cold packs, and a spill kit. Add pediatric supplies if you'll see kids. Keep a "par stock" card showing minimum quantities so you know when to restock.

Store at room temperature (15-25°C), away from direct sunlight. Don't refrigerate unless specified. Keep boxes closed to prevent dust contamination. Shelf life is typically 12-18 months for plastic tubes with additives, 24+ months for no-additive tubes. Rotate stock - first in, first out. Check expiration dates monthly. Expired tubes lose vacuum and additives degrade.

No. Tube holders are universal - they work with any brand's standard 13mm or 16mm tubes. The only exception: some specialty blood culture systems have proprietary holders. Your existing BD holders work fine with Greiner tubes, and vice versa. The needles and tubes might be branded, but the holder doesn't care.

A tube holder is for drawing blood directly from a patient - needle on one end, tube on the other. A transfer device moves blood from a syringe into tubes after the draw - useful for difficult sticks where you draw with syringe first, then distribute to tubes. Some transfer devices have safety features to prevent needlesticks during the transfer process.

Start with: (1) Safety needles - 21G and 23G straight plus butterflies, (2) Tube holders - at least 3 plus safety holders, (3) Common tubes - 100 each of SST, EDTA, citrate, plus cultures and urines, (4) Supplies - tourniquets, gauze, tape, alcohol pads, bandages, (5) Safety - sharps container, gloves all sizes, spill kit, (6) Documentation - requisition forms, labels, pens. Budget roughly $500-800 for a complete station setup.

Post these at every station: (1) Order of draw chart - laminated, eye level, (2) Difficult draw algorithm - your protocol for failed attempts, (3) Needle stick protocol - immediate response steps, (4) Critical value notification list - who to call for panic values, (5) Tube guide - which tests need which tubes. Keep in a binder: SDSs for cleaning supplies, spill response procedure, equipment manuals. Update quarterly or when protocols change.