Question 73

Glucose and triglycerides are appropriate for a fasting specimen.

Fasting blood tests are typically required for accurate measurement of glucose and triglycerides, as food intake can significantly affect their levels. Therefore, this pair is suitable for a fasting specimen.

A) Glucose and triglycerides

This option is correct because both glucose and triglyceride levels are affected by recent food intake. For accurate assessment, patients are usually required to fast for at least 8 hours before these tests.

B) BUN and alkaline phosphatase

This option is incorrect as BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) does not require fasting for accurate measurement. Alkaline phosphatase levels can also be influenced by various factors unrelated to fasting status, making this pair unsuitable.

C) Creatinine and total protein

This option is incorrect because creatinine levels are generally stable and do not require fasting. Total protein levels can also be adequately assessed without fasting, thus this pair is not appropriate for a fasting specimen.

D) Lactate dehydrogenase and albumin

This option is also incorrect since neither lactate dehydrogenase nor albumin requires fasting for their measurement. They can be accurately evaluated regardless of recent food intake, making this pair inappropriate for a fasting specimen.

Conclusion

Glucose and triglycerides are the only pair listed that specifically necessitate fasting for accurate results, due to their sensitivity to dietary intake. All other options include tests that do not require fasting, rendering them inappropriate for this specific context. This distinction underscores the importance of fasting in certain laboratory assessments to ensure reliable and valid results.