What Is a Blood Glucose Tube? A Complete Guide for Medical Professionals

If you work in medicine or are studying to be a healthcare practitioner, you’ve most likely heard the term “blood glucose tube.” So, what precisely is it? How is it used? Why is it so crucial in healthcare settings?

This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about blood glucose tubes, from what they are and how they function to how to choose the ideal ones for your practice. Whether you’re a nurse, lab technician, doctor, or medical student, this post will help you understand the fundamentals and provide advice on how to choose high-quality glucose tubes for blood collection.

What Is a Blood Glucose Tube?

A blood glucose tube is a specific type of blood collection tube used to measure glucose (sugar) levels in a patient’s blood. These tubes are part of a vacutainer blood collection device, which draws and stores blood samples for laboratory examination.

Blood glucose tubes typically contain a specific chemical (known as an additive) that helps keep the blood from changing before it is tested. This addition inhibits red blood cells from depleting the glucose in the blood sample. This ensures that the glucose level is accurate during testing.