Final answer:
An EDTA tube without a gel separator is used for blood collection in medical testing, with EDTA acting as an anticoagulant. The collected blood is centrifuged to obtain plasma for various diagnostic purposes, including proteomic analysis such as 2-DE.
Step-by-step explanation:
An EDTA tube without a gel separator is used in medical procedures for blood collection. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) acts as an anticoagulant, preventing the blood from clotting. These tubes are commonly used in hematology to perform complete blood counts and other hematological assays. Without the gel separator, plasma needs to be separated from blood cells through centrifugation. The resultant plasma can be used for various diagnostic tests, including those that require the plasma's components to remain in as natural a state as possible, without the interference of separating gels.
The collected plasma might be subjected to further analysis, for example, using proteomics techniques like two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), where protein content is determined, and specific proteins are identified and quantified.
Understanding the use of different types of collection tubes like an EDTA tube is crucial in both the preanalytical and analytical phases of diagnostic testing. The absence of a gel separator has implications for the preparation and handling of the sample, as well as the integrity of the test results. The knowledge of how these tubes affect blood component separation is essential for any medical or clinical laboratory technician.