Which laboratory test is associated with the lavender top tube?

The laboratory test associated with the lavender top tube is a complete blood count (CBC). The lavender top tube contains EDTA as an anticoagulant, which prevents the blood from clotting and preserves the integrity of the cellular components for accurate analysis. A CBC measures various components of the blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, providing important information about a patient's overall health and helping to diagnose conditions like anemia, infection, and many other disorders.

In contrast, the other options involve different types of testing. PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) tests typically require a serum separator tube rather than a lavender top tube. Coagulation studies, such as Prothrombin Time (PT) or Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT), are generally performed using a blue top tube, which contains sodium citrate as an anticoagulant specifically designed for coagulation assessments. Chemistry tests can vary widely, and while some may use different tubes depending on the specific tests performed, they usually require a different type of tube as well.