How should blood collection tubes be stored before use?

Storing blood collection tubes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight is essential for maintaining their integrity and ensuring accurate test results. Exposure to heat, humidity, and light can degrade the additives within the tubes or compromise their structure, which might lead to contamination or reactions that could alter test outcomes.

By keeping the tubes in a controlled environment with stable temperature and low humidity, the stability and efficacy of the additives are preserved. This is particularly important for vacuum tubes that contain anticoagulants or other preservatives, as any changes in their condition could impact the samples collected for analysis.

Choosing this storage method ensures that the tubes remain viable and effective until they are ready to be used for patient sample collection.