Question

A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient about how to perform a pregnancy test. Which of the following statements should the technician include?

1) The test should be performed in the morning using the first urine of the day.
2) The test should be performed in the evening using the last urine of the day.
3) The test should be performed immediately after sexual intercourse.
4) The test should be performed after a week of missed period.

Answer 1

A phlebotomy technician should advise a patient to perform a pregnancy test in the morning using the first urine of the day for the most accurate result, after at least one week of a missed period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement that the phlebotomy technician should include when instructing a patient on how to perform a pregnancy test is: The test should be performed in the morning using the first urine of the day. Home pregnancy tests are designed to detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine, which is produced after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. The concentration of hCG is typically highest in the morning, which is why the first urine of the day is ideal for testing. This ensures a more reliable result.

Additionally, it is recommended to wait at least until after a week of missed period before taking the test to allow for sufficient hormone levels to build up for detection. Monitoring basal body temperature (BBT) and using ovulation predictor kits to detect luteinizing hormone (LH) are methods associated with fertility awareness, not pregnancy testing.