Question

Why is it important for you to confirm that a pt is in a fasted state if fasting is required?

A) To ensure accurate test results
B) To speed up the testing process
C) To minimize patient discomfort
D) To avoid contamination

Answer 1

It is crucial to confirm a patient's fasted state for accurate test results, especially for tests like the glucose tolerance test, as food intake can affect blood sugar levels and lead to misleading outcomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Confirming that a patient is in a fasted state if fasting is required is primarily to ensure accurate test results. For instance, in conducting a glucose tolerance test, which confirms diabetes mellitus by observing hyperglycemia, any recent intake of food can significantly alter the blood sugar levels, leading to potentially misleading results. Ensuring a fasted state helps in obtaining a clear picture of how the body manages glucose without the immediate impacts of recent food intake.

Similarly, asking patients to avoid allergy medications before allergy testing is important because these medications can suppress the body's allergic responses. As a result, the test might fail to accurately detect an allergy, leading to an incorrect diagnosis.