Test Items in SST Tubes Containing Serum Separation Gel

Working Principle of SST Tube

A SST tube is a special type of blood collection tube, with its key component being the serum separation gel. This gel has specific density and viscosity that allows it to form a stable interface during the centrifugation process, effectively separating the blood cells and serum. After the blood sample is collected, the blood quickly coagulates under the influence of a clot activator, while the serum separation gel uses its physical properties to separate the serum from the blood cells during centrifugation. This allows researchers to easily obtain pure serum samples for subsequent testing.

Applications of SST Tube

Serological Testing

Serological testing is an important part of medical diagnostics. By analyzing specific components in the serum, one can understand the body's immune function, infection status, and disease progression. The SST tube provides high-quality serum samples, ensuring more accurate and reliable results in serological testing. For example, by detecting antibody levels in the serum, one can determine if the body is infected with a specific pathogen; by testing for tumor markers in the serum, it can assist in diagnosing cancer.

Biochemical Testing

Biochemical testing is a critical method for evaluating the body's metabolic functions, electrolyte balance, as well as liver and kidney functions. The SST tube is used in biochemical testing primarily to measure various biochemical indicators in the serum, such as blood glucose, blood lipids, and liver/kidney function-related markers. Changes in these indicators reflect the body's physiological state and disease progression. Using pure serum samples obtained from the SST tube can eliminate the interference of blood cells, improving the accuracy of biochemical testing.

Immunological Testing

Immunological testing is crucial for studying the body's immune function and disease immune mechanisms. The SST tube is mainly used in immunological testing to detect immune-related molecules in the serum, including immunoglobulins and cytokines, which play a key role in immune responses and disease development. Using the SST tube ensures high-quality serum samples, making immunological test results more accurate.

Advantages of SST Tube in Medical Testing

Improved Testing Accuracy

The SST tube effectively separates blood cells, eliminating their interference and resulting in purer serum samples. This helps improve the accuracy of various tests and reduces errors, as well as false-positive or false-negative results.

Simplified Workflow

Traditional blood separation methods often require multiple centrifugation and transfer steps, which are cumbersome and prone to contamination. The SST tube can achieve complete separation of serum and blood cells in a single centrifugation process, simplifying the workflow and reducing operational difficulty.

Increased Efficiency

The use of SST tubes makes blood sample processing and separation faster and more efficient. Technicians can quickly obtain the required serum samples, speeding up the testing process and improving work efficiency.

Reduced Costs and Risks

Using SST tubes can reduce the need for expensive and complex separation equipment, lowering testing costs. Moreover, since the SST tube provides high-quality serum samples, it minimizes the risk of test failures and repeat tests due to sample quality issues.