TECHNOTE

CAP COLOR CODINGFor biological samples

“During the collection, processing and storage of samples, sample traceability is crucial. While most laboratories use 1D and 2D barcodes on sample tubes to ensure traceability of samples, cap color inspection will further promote the tube identifica-tion process.”

DURING THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND STORAGE OF SAMPLES, SAMPLE TRACEABILITY IS CRUCIAL. WHILE MOST

LABORATORIES USE 1D AND 2D BARCODES ON SAMPLE TUBES TO ENSURE TRACEABILITY OF SAMPLES, CAP COLOR

INSPECTION WILL FURTHER PROMOTE THE TUBE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS.

CAP COLOR CODING

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Cap color coding in laboratories is particularly useful when used

to distinguish between different types of research purposes. Color

provides a visual clue that works faster than text alone. By adding

cap color coding next to 1D and 2D barcodes, users can speed up

sample storage and retrieval time, eliminate human errors, and

reduce the risk of lost samples.

On a daily basis, large independent laboratories or biobanks

collect, process and store several types of biological samples -

including blood, DNA, tissue, urine or feces. These samples can be

human or animal. Additionally, other samples like plants or seeds

can be collected, processed and stored as well.

Regarding the sample storage process of blood samples - it starts

with blood collection. The commonly used test tubes for collect-

ing high volume blood samples are vacuum containers. These test

tubes have colored caps indicating additives that may have been

added to pre-treat the blood or to preserve it for processing. These

additives may consist of anticoagulants (e.g. ACD, EDTA or Potas-

sium Oxalate), a gel with intermediate density between blood cells

and serum, or substances that preserve certain chemicals or sub-

stances within the blood (e.g. Glucose).

The collected blood samples are used for blood tests and subse-

quent short-term storage (laboratories), or for long-term storage

(biobanks). Mostly for long-term sample storage, the high volume

blood samples are subdivided into several aliquots. This is done to

have backups if an aliquot degrades or is used for research. Since

the aliquots have a smaller volume, they are stored into smaller

2D coded sample storage tubes in 96-well rack format, like those

supplied by Micronic. When the aliquots have been stored into

these types of racked tubes, the 1D rack barcode and 2D tube

codes are scanned (to ensure sample traceability) and then the

samples are stored at low temperatures. The most commonly

used low temperatures are -20°C, -80°C or -196°C.

The transfer of the blood samples from vacuum containers into

smaller sample storage tubes results in the loss of the advantage

of visual identification by cap color. Up until now, no cap color cod-

ing standard exists in the market for sample storage tubes which

is based on the cap colors of sample collection tubes. Therefore,

to still be able to identify the aliquots by cap color inspection or to

ensure that aliquots can be traced back to parent samples, Micro-

nic offers a standard cap color solution for 96-, 48- and 24-format

sample storage tubes. This solution is related to the cap colors

of vacuum containers. To each type of blood sample (i.e. additive

which is present to pre-treat or preserve the blood), a cap color is

assigned. Next to blood samples, the cap color solution can also

be used for other samples (e.g. DNA, tissue, urine, feces, plants or

seeds).

The standard Micronic cap color coding guide for sample stor-

age tubes can be found on the next page.

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Grey

White

Yellow

Orange

Red

Pink

Purple

Blue

Light Blue

Light Green

Green

Black

Potassium oxalate with sodium fluoride

EDTA with gel

Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)

Clot activator and gel for serum separation

Clot activator and no anticoagulants, preservatives, or separator material

EDTA

EDTA

EDTA or plain

Sodium citrate

Lithium heparin and gel separator

Sodium heparin

Sodium citrate ESR

Glucose determinations and some special chemistry tests

Molecular diagnostic tests (PCR)

Blood culture specimen collections in microbiology

Various chemistry, immunology, and serology tests

LDH, ionized Ca, drug, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, osmolality, bone markers and endocrine tests

Preferred for blood banks (transfusion samples)

Hematology (CBC, platelet, sed rate) and chemistry (CD4, CD8, G6PD, hemoglobin A1C) tests

Copper, zinc or trace element deter-minations

PT, PPT, fibrinogen, fibrin D-Dimer, CMV buffy coat and other coagula-tion tests

Plasma determinations inchemistry

Plasma determinations inchemistry

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates

Cap Color

Tissue

Saliva, cerebrospinal and other fluids

Urine and cerethral swabs

Food matters

Chemicals

Breast milk and me-conium

Environmental speci-men

Semen and cervical swabs

Marine and other intact organisms

Seeds

Micro organisms and plant matters

Nail clippings and hair

Blood samples

Additive Research purpose

Other

Sample

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Micronic Europe

(Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania)

Tel: +31 (0)320 277070

Micronic America

(North, Central and South America)

Tel: +1 484 480 3372

E-mail: sales@micronic.com

www.micronic.com

©2013 Micronic. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change. Please

consult your local sales representative for more details. [PD0801901]

ABOUT MICRONIC

Our goal is to advance research by serving scientists in finding

solutions that contribute to a higher quality of life. We develop and

manufacture a range of Dutch-designed products to enhance the

process of sample preservation and storage.

Micronic is an independent organization with its headquarters

located in Lelystad, the Netherlands. Micronic produces and

assembles its labware in certified Class 7 clean rooms which

are located in the Netherlands and the United States. Its labware

equipment is also assembled inhouse.

Micronic is an ISO 9001 and 14001 certified company. The Micro-

nic sales, marketing and product support is organized at two sales

offices: Micronic America LLC and Micronic Europe BV. The prod-

ucts are applied worldwide in the (research) laboratories of univer-

sity hospitals, forensics, agricultural, veterinary and governmental

institutes, as well as companies in biotech, food, chemical and

pharmaceutical industries.