Final answer:
Tests performed with a red top tube can include mononucleosis tests, the direct Coombs' test, and determination of the hematocrit level. These tests are employed to detect antibodies, to identify autoimmune responses, and to measure blood cell levels respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Common tests performed using a red top tube include a range of serological assays that can be used to detect the presence of specific antibodies in the patient's serum.
One such test detailed is a mononucleosis test, which utilizes horse erythrocytes (red blood cells) as a reagent. When heterophile antibodies are present, these antibodies will cause the horse red blood cells to agglutinate, forming visible clumps.
Another test is the direct Coombs' test, important for detecting antibodies that have attached to red blood cells (erythrocytes) which do not agglutinate on their own. This test is significant for identifying conditions such as autoimmune diseases where the body's immune system may be attacking its own red blood cells. Tests like the lateral flow assay discussed, often used for rapid diagnostic tests such as pregnancy tests, employ capillary action to move the sample through a test strip that detects antigen-antibody interactions by a color change.
Other tests might include measurements like hematocrit, which is used to determine the percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample. This is done by centrifuging the blood sample and analyzing the resultant layers, including the buffy coat and the plasma.