Which of the following actions should a phlebotomist take when interacting with a patient who has a "Contact Precautions" sign on their door?

Choice A reason:
Glucose and triglyceride levels are influenced by recent food intake, so it is essential to measure these levels after a period of fasting to obtain accurate results. Fasting ensures that the glucose measurement reflects the body's baseline glucose level without the influence of a recent meal, which is crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions like diabetes. Similarly, triglycerides, which are fats in the blood, can be elevated after eating, so a fasting sample gives a clear picture of the lipid profile for assessing cardiovascular risk.

Choice B reason:
While BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) levels can be affected by diet, fasting is not typically required for BUN or alkaline phosphatase tests. These tests are often part of a comprehensive metabolic panel that may or may not require fasting. However, fasting is not specifically necessary for accurate measurement of these two tests.

Choice C reason:
Creatinine and total protein levels are generally not affected by short-term dietary intake, so fasting is not required for these tests. Creatinine is a waste product from muscle metabolism and is used to evaluate kidney function, while total protein levels can indicate a variety of conditions including liver and kidney disorders, but they reflect the body's long-term nutritional status rather than immediate food intake.

Choice D reason:
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and albumin tests do not require fasting. LDH is an enzyme found in almost all body tissues and is released into the bloodstream when tissues are damaged, so its levels are not dependent on food intake. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood and is produced by the liver; its levels are used to assess liver and kidney function, nutritional status, and other conditions, but fasting is not necessary for accurate measurement.

Choice A Reason:
Blood for HIV testing does not typically require a chain of custody form. HIV testing is a confidential medical test, but the results are not usually used for legal purposes, which is when a chain of custody would be necessary.

Choice B Reason:
Sputum for tuberculosis testing also does not require a chain of custody form. While the test is critical for diagnosing tuberculosis, the results are used for medical diagnosis and treatment rather than legal proceedings.

Choice C Reason:
Blood for paternity testing requires a chain of custody form because the results can have legal implications, such as establishing paternity for child support or custody cases. The chain of custody ensures that the sample is properly handled and tracked from collection to analysis, preventing tampering or misidentification.

Choice D Reason:
A swab for chlamydia testing, like HIV testing, is a confidential medical test that does not usually require a chain of custody form. The results are used for medical purposes, such as diagnosis and treatment, rather than legal proceedings.