Patient Preparation Flashcards
7 cards from real ASPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Preparation flashcards as text
A phlebotomist is asked to collect a fasting specimen from a patient who says they ate a small snack 2 hours ago. What is the best course of action?
Answer: Collect the specimen and note 'non-fasting' on the requisition
If a non-fasting specimen must be collected, the phlebotomist should document the patient's actual fasting status on the requisition so the provider can interpret results appropriately.
What should the phlebotomist verify before performing a venipuncture on an unconscious patient?
Answer: Identification via wristband and an order for the draw
For unconscious patients who cannot provide verbal consent or self-identify, identity is confirmed using the wristband, and a valid order must be present before proceeding.
Which factor most commonly causes pre-analytical error related to patient preparation?
Answer: Patient not following fasting or medication instructions before the draw
Non-compliance with pre-collection instructions (fasting, medication timing, exercise restriction) is the leading pre-analytical variable affecting specimen quality.
Before a glucose tolerance test (GTT), the patient must be instructed to:
Answer: Fast for 8-12 hours and avoid strenuous exercise before the test
A proper GTT requires 8-12 hours of fasting with avoidance of strenuous exercise, as both food and exercise significantly alter glucose metabolism.
A patient who is breast-feeding asks if it matters for a prolactin blood test. The correct response is:
Answer: Breast-feeding and recent nursing can significantly elevate prolactin; the physician should be informed
Breast-feeding and nipple stimulation cause acute prolactin surges, so the ordering physician must know the patient's status to interpret the result correctly.
When preparing a patient for a blood draw, the tourniquet should not remain in place for longer than:
Answer: 1 minute
Tourniquet application beyond 1 minute causes hemoconcentration and can falsely elevate proteins, cells, and other analytes that do not cross the vessel wall.
A patient is scheduled for a cortisol level measurement. Which preparation instruction is most critical?
Answer: Note and communicate the exact time of collection, as cortisol follows a diurnal rhythm
Cortisol levels follow a diurnal pattern (highest in early morning, lowest at night), so precise collection time must be documented to allow correct interpretation.