Final answer:
The phlebotomist should (A) ask the patient when she last ate or drank upon noticing an empty breakfast plate, as the Glucose Tolerance Test requires fasting for accurate results. Eating food could alter the test outcome, making it vital to confirm the fasting status before proceeding with the GTT.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the phlebotomist needs to draw a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) and notices that the patient may have recently eaten, the phlebotomist should take the action to Ask the patient when she last ate or drank. This is important because the GTT requires the patient to be in a fasting state for accurate results. Having a carbohydrate-rich diet for three days prior to the test is necessary, but fasting for 12-14 hours before the oral glucose dose is crucial. Eating breakfast could significantly alter the blood glucose levels and affect the test outcome.
The GTT is performed to assess how well an individual's body processes glucose, which can indicate the presence of diabetes mellitus. After the initial fasting blood glucose measurement, a defined dose of glucose is given orally, and blood samples are taken at intervals to measure the blood glucose response.
If the patient's blood glucose levels do not return to normal within the expected time frame after ingesting glucose, this indicates a potential intolerance to glucose and thus, the presence of diabetes mellitus. Conversely, if the blood glucose level returns to normal as it would in individuals without diabetes, the test is negative for diabetes mellitus. Therefore, knowing exactly when the patient last consumed food or drink is critical to the integrity of the GTT results.