BD 368013 - Plastic Serum Separator Tube, 5.0 mL, Silica and Gel, Gold Hemogard, 13 x 100 mm, ID Bar-Coded 100/PK (Minimum Expiry Lead is 90 days) (Temp Sensitive; Non-Returnable) (Continental US Only) (Item on Manufacturer Allocation - Inventory Limited when Avail
The BD 368013 Plastic Blood Collection Tube is an evacuated serum separator tube designed for collecting, processing, containing, and transporting venous blood specimens for compatible in vitro diagnostic testing. The tube measures 13 x 100 mm and provides a nominal 5.0 mL draw volume for clinical chemistry, serology, immunology, and other validated serum-based laboratory procedures.
The tube contains a silica-based clot activator that promotes consistent blood clotting after specimen collection. It also includes a polymer gel that moves during centrifugation to form a stable physical barrier between the serum and cellular components of the specimen. This separation helps laboratories obtain serum suitable for compatible analytical testing while reducing continued contact between the serum and blood cells.
A gold Hemogard closure provides immediate visual identification of the serum separator configuration. The protective closure design helps support controlled tube handling and stopper removal in clinical and laboratory environments.
The integrated ID bar-coded label supports machine-readable specimen identification within compatible laboratory information and accessioning workflows. The plastic tube construction helps reduce breakage risks associated with conventional glass collection tubes while supporting routine specimen transportation, centrifugation, and processing.
Key Benefits
- Five-milliliter draw volume supports routine serum collection for compatible laboratory testing.
- Silica clot activator promotes efficient and consistent specimen clot formation.
- Polymer gel forms a physical barrier between serum and cellular components following proper centrifugation.
- Gold closure provides rapid visual recognition of the serum separator tube configuration.
- Hemogard closure design supports controlled handling and helps reduce direct contact with the stopper.
- ID bar-coded label supports specimen identification, accessioning, and compatible automated laboratory workflows.
- Plastic construction provides durability and helps reduce the risk of breakage during collection, transport, and processing.
- Evacuated design supports standardized collection of the intended blood volume.
- Standard 13 x 100 mm dimensions fit many compatible laboratory racks, centrifuges, and automated processing systems.
- Packaging of 100 tubes per rack and 1,000 tubes per case supports high-volume laboratory operations.
Compatibility and Applications
The BD 368013 Plastic Tube is designed for use with compatible evacuated blood collection equipment, including appropriate blood collection needles, safety blood collection sets, tube holders, and other devices that accept standard evacuated tubes.
The 13 x 100 mm format is compatible with many laboratory racks, centrifuge carriers, decapping systems, specimen transport devices, accessioning stations, and automated analyzers designed to accept this tube size. Laboratories should confirm compatibility with their specific equipment before implementation.
Typical applications include collection of serum for clinical chemistry, immunology, serology, therapeutic drug monitoring, endocrinology, infectious disease testing, and other laboratory procedures validated for serum separator tubes.
The tube may be used in hospitals, outpatient laboratories, physician offices, emergency departments, blood collection centers, specialty clinics, reference laboratories, and other healthcare environments that collect and process venous blood specimens.
Compatibility with a particular test, analyzer, reagent system, centrifugation protocol, storage interval, or transport condition should be validated by the testing laboratory.
Usage Guidelines
Before collection, verify the BD 368013 catalog number, 5.0 mL draw volume, gold closure, tube dimensions, expiration date, barcode information, and suitability for the requested laboratory tests.
- Confirm patient identity using the healthcare facility's approved identification procedure.
- Select a compatible blood collection needle, holder, or blood collection set.
- Follow the facility's approved order of draw when collecting multiple specimen tubes.
- Allow the vacuum to draw blood until the intended collection volume is reached and blood flow stops.
- Remove the tube from the holder using an approved blood collection technique.
- Gently invert the tube according to current manufacturer instructions to mix the specimen with the silica clot activator.
- Do not shake the tube vigorously because excessive agitation may contribute to hemolysis or specimen damage.
- Allow the specimen to clot for the period specified by the manufacturer and laboratory procedure before centrifugation.
- Centrifuge the tube according to the validated speed, time, temperature, and relative centrifugal force requirements.
- Verify that the gel barrier has formed correctly before analysis, transportation, or storage.
- Label and accession the specimen according to institutional identification procedures.
Underfilled tubes, insufficient clotting time, delayed centrifugation, incorrect centrifuge settings, vigorous mixing, or improper storage may affect serum quality and laboratory results.
Certifications and Safety Standards
The BD 368013 is intended for professional in vitro diagnostic specimen collection and should be used according to current manufacturer labeling, healthcare facility procedures, laboratory quality systems, and applicable blood collection standards.
The tube should be incorporated into an established laboratory process covering patient identification, venipuncture, order of draw, specimen labeling, clotting, centrifugation, transportation, storage, analysis, and disposal.
The product is not a diagnostic test by itself. It is a specimen collection and processing device intended to support compatible laboratory testing when used correctly. The clinical laboratory remains responsible for validating the tube with its analyzers, assays, reagents, and specimen-handling procedures.
Healthcare facilities should verify current manufacturer documentation for FDA status, UDI information, sterilization details, material specifications, expiration dating, market authorization, and any applicable international regulatory requirements.
Comparison with Competitors
Compared with plain serum tubes that do not contain separation gel, the BD 368013 includes a polymer barrier that separates serum from cellular components after proper centrifugation. This can simplify serum processing and help reduce the need to transfer the serum into a secondary container for many routine applications.
Compared with conventional glass blood collection tubes, the plastic construction helps reduce breakage risks during collection, specimen transportation, centrifugation, and disposal. Plastic tubes may also support safer handling in high-volume laboratory environments.
Compared with tubes using standard exposed stoppers, the Hemogard closure includes a protective shield that supports controlled stopper handling and removal. The gold color also helps staff identify the tube as a serum separator product.
Compared with tubes using only human-readable labels, the ID bar-coded configuration supports compatible machine-readable identification and automated specimen workflows. Barcode compatibility should be confirmed with the healthcare facility's scanners, middleware, laboratory information system, and automation equipment.
Competitor serum separator tubes may differ in draw volume, clot activator formulation, gel characteristics, closure design, tube material, dimensions, labeling, and centrifugation requirements. The BD 368013 combines a 5.0 mL draw volume, silica clot activator, polymer gel, gold Hemogard closure, plastic construction, and ID bar-coded labeling.
Typical User Profile and Application Scenarios
The BD 368013 Plastic Tube is intended for trained healthcare and laboratory professionals involved in venous blood collection, specimen accessioning, processing, transportation, and analysis. Typical users include phlebotomists, nurses, physicians, medical assistants, laboratory technicians, medical laboratory scientists, and other qualified personnel.
Common application scenarios include routine outpatient blood collection, inpatient laboratory testing, emergency department diagnostics, preoperative assessment, chronic disease monitoring, therapeutic drug monitoring, endocrine testing, infectious disease testing, and general clinical chemistry analysis.
The ID bar-coded configuration is particularly relevant for healthcare organizations using automated patient identification, specimen tracking, laboratory accessioning, or high-volume processing systems.
The 5.0 mL draw volume may provide sufficient serum for multiple compatible tests, repeat analysis, or specimen storage when handled according to laboratory requirements.
Best Practices for Use and Maintenance
The BD 368013 is a single-use specimen collection device and does not require maintenance as reusable equipment. Best practices focus on correct storage, inventory rotation, specimen collection, clotting, centrifugation, labeling, transportation, and disposal.
- Store unused tubes under the environmental conditions stated by the manufacturer.
- Protect tubes from excessive heat, freezing, moisture, direct sunlight, and physical damage.
- Rotate inventory according to expiration dates and facility stock-control procedures.
- Do not use expired tubes because vacuum performance, clot activation, and gel characteristics may be affected.
- Inspect each tube for cracks, closure damage, contamination, label defects, or loss of vacuum before use.
- Collect the intended 5.0 mL volume to support appropriate specimen processing.
- Mix the specimen promptly and gently according to current manufacturer instructions.
- Allow adequate clotting time before centrifugation.
- Use only validated centrifugation conditions for the tube and requested testing.
- Inspect the serum and gel barrier for hemolysis, fibrin, incomplete separation, or other quality concerns.
- Do not reuse, refill, wash, autoclave, or resterilize the tube.
- Dispose of used tubes according to biohazardous waste procedures and applicable regulations.
Regulatory and Safety Information
The BD 368013 Plastic Tube should be used only for professional venous blood collection and in vitro diagnostic specimen handling. It must not be used for intravenous medication administration, fluid delivery, transfusion, or direct patient treatment.
Standard precautions should be followed because all human blood specimens must be treated as potentially infectious. Personnel should use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow the healthcare facility's exposure-control plan.
The tube should remain closed whenever possible after collection. Opening, transferring, aliquoting, or processing specimens should be performed using approved laboratory techniques intended to minimize exposure, contamination, and identification errors.
The silica clot activator and polymer gel are intended to support clot formation and serum separation. The tube should not be substituted for EDTA, citrate, heparin, fluoride, trace-element, or other specialized collection tubes unless the testing laboratory has validated that use.
The product should not be reused or reprocessed. Heat, chemical treatment, autoclaving, washing, or resterilization may alter the vacuum, closure, additive system, gel performance, label integrity, or tube dimensions.
The CIA Medical listing specifies a minimum expiry lead of 90 days and identifies the product as temperature sensitive and non-returnable, with distribution restrictions. Buyers should verify the catalog number, quantity, current availability, expiry requirements, and shipping eligibility before placing an order.
How to Order
Select the BD 368013 - Plastic Tube, Hemogard Closure, ID Bar Coded, 13mm x 100mm, 5.0mL, Gold, Silica/Gel and add it to your cart. Complete checkout with your preferred shipping and payment options. For bulk orders, quotes, or further assistance, contact CIA Medical customer service at (312)275-5850 or use the contact form on this page.
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