Question

The patient informed the phlebotomist that he or she has been taking aspirin. You check your labels and see that aspirin may affect several of the tests ordered. Which of the following laboratory results would not be affected by the patient's consumption of aspirin?

Answer 1

Lab tests unrelated to coagulation or platelet function, such as a basic metabolic panel or a complete blood count, would generally not be affected by a patient's consumption of aspirin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves understanding how aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), as an anticoagulant, affects various clinical laboratory tests. Aspirin is known for its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, which leads to an increased bleeding time and can affect tests related to clotting factors and platelet function. This means tests that measure coagulation times, like PT (Prothrombin Time), aPTT (activated Partial Thromboplastin Time), and platelet function assays, could be influenced by aspirin intake.

However, when considering laboratory results that would not be affected by the patient’s consumption of aspirin, tests unrelated to coagulation or platelet function are unlikely to be influenced. For instance, a basic metabolic panel (BMP) that includes measurements of electrolytes, kidney function, and blood glucose levels, or a complete blood count (CBC) that evaluates elements such as red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin, would generally not be affected by aspirin.