NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Collection RoutineMedium
A phlebotomy technician is collecting a blood specimen for a fasting glucose test. The patient states they had a small glass of orange juice about an hour ago. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
- ACollect the blood and immediately notify the physician.
- BCollect the blood, but instruct the patient to fast for 4 hours before their next draw.
- CProceed with the blood draw and note the information on the requisition.
- DReschedule the collection for another day when the patient has properly fasted.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Reschedule the collection for another day when the patient has properly fasted.
For a fasting glucose test, the patient must fast for 8-12 hours. Ingesting orange juice breaks the fast, rendering the test results inaccurate. The technician should reschedule the collection to ensure valid results.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Notifying the physician is good practice, but the specimen itself is compromised for a fasting test.
- B. While good advice for the future, it does not correct the current compromised specimen.
- C. Noting the information is insufficient; the specimen will yield inaccurate results.
Fasting Specimen Collection
Collection of a blood specimen after a specified period of abstinence from food and drink (usually 8-12 hours), often required for tests like glucose and lipid panels.
- Water is generally permitted.
- Non-fasting can significantly alter results.
- Patient education is crucial for compliance.
Memory trick: Fasting facts: food invalidates, reschedule for accuracy.