The device was developed to help acute healthcare facilities rapidly analyze blood serum for patient diagnosis. The 5 mL-draw, 13 × 100 mL plastic sterile blood-collection tube combines a thrombin-based additive with gel technology, which creates a high quality serum sample by minimizing fibrin formation and hemolysis.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD; Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) launched the BD Vacutainer Rapid Serum Tube, which features the BD Hemogard safety-engineered closure that enhances healthcare worker safety as well as compatibility with clinical analyzers utilizing front-end automation.

"Blood test results drive many important medical decisions, including how to treat or medicate patients,” said Ana Stankovic, MD, PhD, MSPH, vice president, medical and scientific affairs and clinical operations for BD Diagnostics - Preanalytical Systems. “Technologies such as the BD Vacutainer Rapid Serum Tube can help reduce the time it takes to get answers from blood tests and have a significant impact on patient care and hospital productivity.”

Standard serum separator tubes require a 30-minute clot time followed by 10 minutes of centrifugation before clinical laboratory professionals can begin analyzing the sample and getting test results.

Studies conducted by BD showed a 59% reduction of hemolysis and fibrin strand formation in the BD Vacutainer Rapid Serum Tube versus the serum control tube. This observed sample quality improvement may help lower the number of repeat collections by phlebotomy, which in turn can increase the productivity of the laboratory.

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