Skills

The Order of Draw, Memorized for Good

A simple mnemonic and the reasoning behind it — so it sticks for the interview and the job.

4 min read · AceYourCV Phlebotomist team

Interviewers love to test the order of draw because getting it wrong contaminates samples. Here's the standard order and an easy way to remember it.

The order

Blood cultures (yellow/sterile)
Light blue (citrate)
Red / gold (serum)
Green (heparin)
Lavender (EDTA)
Gray (fluoride)

Why it matters

Drawing out of order lets additives carry over between tubes and skew results. On your resume and in interviews, mentioning you follow correct order of draw signals real competence.

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