Final answer:
The pink tube is collected after blood culture bottles/vials and light blue top tubes, and before serum tubes with or without clot activator (red or gold top) in the order of draw. It is used for blood banking tests and contains EDTA as an anticoagulant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The order in which you collect a pink tube during phlebotomy is based on a standard known as the order of draw. The pink tube is typically used for blood bank collections such as for cross-matching, blood typing, and antibody screening. A pink-topped tube contains EDTA as an anticoagulant. According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, the order of draw recommends that blood culture bottles or vials should be collected first, followed by coagulation tubes (light blue top), then serum tubes with or without clot activator (red top or gold top), and afterward, the pink tube can be drawn. This helps to avoid cross-contamination and ensures the accuracy of test results. Following this protocol is important to prevent any interference with the laboratory tests.