What are additives used for in collection tubes?

Additives in collection tubes play a crucial role in preserving or enhancing sample integrity. These substances are specifically formulated to interact with blood components, preventing coagulation, promoting cellular stability, or maintaining the viability of analytes. For example, anticoagulants like EDTA or citrate are used to prevent blood from clotting, thus allowing for accurate testing of various blood parameters. Additionally, some additives may help stabilize certain components within the sample, ensuring that results remain reliable until the specimen is processed in the laboratory. Ensuring sample integrity is essential for obtaining accurate and valid test results, making the use of additives a fundamental aspect of proper specimen collection and handling.

The other choices do not adequately describe the primary function of additives in collection tubes, as they either refer to factors that do not directly impact sample quality or address aspects that are secondary to the main purpose of maintaining sample integrity.