What color tube is used to collect a specimen for Cyclosporine monitoring?

The correct choice for collecting a specimen for Cyclosporine monitoring is the dark lavender tube. This color tube typically contains EDTA, an anticoagulant that is used for hematology tests, but it’s particularly relevant in this context due to the sensitive nature of drugs like Cyclosporine, which require precise measurement of drug levels in the blood.

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive medication often used in transplant patients, and its monitoring requires proper specimen handling to ensure accurate dosage and prevent toxicity. The dark lavender tube helps preserve the integrity of the sample, which is vital for accurate results. Additionally, laboratory settings usually have specific protocols that delineate the use of certain tubes based on the type of tests being performed, and in this case, EDTA tubes align with the standards for monitoring medications like Cyclosporine.

The other tube types listed serve different purposes; the red tube is primarily used for serum tests, the light blue tube is used for coagulation tests, and the green tube often contains heparin, typically used for plasma determination. Each of these options would not be appropriate for the specific requirements of Cyclosporine monitoring.