Which of the following blood glucose monitors will need to have a quality control measurement daily?

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:
A hair cap is used to prevent contamination from the hair, but it is not specifically designed to protect against body fluid splashes. While it is a part of personal protective equipment (PPE), it does not provide coverage for the areas most likely to be exposed to splashes during phlebotomy procedures.

Choice B reason:
A gown is the appropriate choice for protection against body fluid splashes. It covers a significant portion of the body and is designed to prevent fluids from reaching the phlebotomist's skin or undergarments, which is essential when there is a risk of splashes during procedures like venipuncture.

Choice C reason:
Shoe covers protect the feet from contamination, but they are not typically necessary for phlebotomy unless there is a significant risk of large fluid spills on the floor. They are more commonly used in operating rooms or during the cleaning of large spills.

Choice D reason:
Sterile gloves are a standard requirement for phlebotomy to maintain aseptic technique and prevent contamination. However, gloves alone do not provide sufficient protection against body fluid splashes that may reach other parts of the body.