15. A patient is scheduled for a 3-hr glucose tolerance test at an outpatient laboratory. After verifying the patient's identity, which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take?
Answer: C
Confirming the patient fasted for the proper length of time is essential.
Before conducting a glucose tolerance test, it is crucial to ensure that the patient has fasted for the appropriate duration, typically 8 to 12 hours. This fasting period is important for obtaining accurate test results.
A) Instruct the patient to finish drinking the glucose within 30 min.
While the patient will need to consume the glucose solution, this instruction is typically given after confirming fasting and is not the immediate action a phlebotomist should take right after verifying identity. Therefore, this option is not the best initial step.
B) Prepare the patient's middle finger for capillary collection.
Capillary collection is not appropriate for a glucose tolerance test, which requires venous blood samples. Thus, this option does not align with the proper procedure and is incorrect.
C) Confirm the patient fasted for the proper length of time.
This option is correct as confirming that the patient has fasted for the proper amount of time is a critical step before proceeding with the glucose tolerance test. Accurate results depend on adherence to fasting guidelines.
D) Obtain the patient's current vitals.
While monitoring vitals can be important in certain medical contexts, it is not a priority immediately after verifying identity for a glucose tolerance test. This step does not directly relate to the integrity of the test being performed, making it less relevant.
Conclusion
Confirming the patient's fasting status is essential for the accuracy of the glucose tolerance test, as failure to do so could lead to misleading results. The other options either pertain to actions that are not immediately relevant or are inappropriate for the testing procedure, thereby reinforcing that option C is the most suitable choice.