Aim To explore patient’s awareness and appliance of the fasting state requirements for blood sampling. Methods This observational survey was performed at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology Diagnostics, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, from June to July 2019. An anonymous questionnaire was conducted on 200 consecutive outpatients older than 18, who were admitted to the laboratory for routine blood testing. Results A total of 134 (67%) patients were informed that they needed to be at fasting to perform laboratory tests. Patients were mostly informed by a requesting physician or a nurse, 68 (50.8 %), and by other patients, members of the family and friends, 58 (43.3%); only seven (5.2%) patients were informed in the laboratory. A total of 75 (37.5%) patients arrived to the laboratory properly prepared. Conclusion Most patients were not well informed about fasting state requirements for blood sampling and consequently they were not adequately prepared for laboratory tests. Laboratory should establish updated fasting recommendations available to patients and healthcare professionals, and conduct continuing education of patients and health care staff.
Simundic A, Bolenius K, Cadamuro J, Church S, Cornes M, Van Dongen-Lases E, et al. Joint EFLM-COLABIOCLI Recommendation for venous blood sampling. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018;15–38.
2.
Lippi G, Baird G, Banfi G, Bölenius K, Cadamuro J, Church S, et al. Improving quality in the preanalytical phase through innovation. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2017;489–500.
3.
Hepburn S, Jankute M, Cornes M, Rios R, Stretton N, Costelloe A, et al. Survey of patient perception of pre-analytical requirements for blood testing in the UK and RoI. Ann Clin Biochem. 2020;
4.
Sareen R, Kapil M, Gupta G. Blood glucose fasting -harmonization of variables affecting pre analytical phase. J Fam Med Forecast. 2019;1014.
5.
López-Garrigós M, Flores E, Bourahel Y, Leiva-Salinas P, Ortega-Lamaignere M, Puerta M. Patient preparation prior to the blood test: importance in quality of the results. J Healthc Qual Res. 2020;56–8.
6.
Grankvist K, Sigthorsson G, Kristensen G, Pelanti J, Nybo M. Status on fasting definition for blood sampling in the Nordic countries -time for a harmonized definition. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2018;591–4.
7.
Arredondo M, Aranda E, Astorga R, Brennan-Bourdon L, Campelo M, Flores S, et al. Breakfast can affect routine hematology and coagulation laboratory testing: an evaluation on behalf of COLABIOCLI WG-PRE-LATAM. TH Open. 2019;367–76.
8.
Benozzi S, Unger G, Campion A, Pennacchiotti G. Fasting conditions: influence of water intake on clinical chemistry analytes. Biochem Med. 2018;10702.
9.
Koscielniak B, Charchut A, Wójcik M, Sztefko K, Tomasik P. Impact of fasting on complete blood count assayed in capillary blood samples. Lab Med. 2017;357–61.
10.
Bajaña W, Aranda E, Arredondo M, Brennan-Bourdon L, Campelo M, Espinoza E, et al. Impact of an Andean breakfast on biochemistry and immunochemistry laboratory tests: an evaluation on behalf COLABIOCLI WG-PRE-LATAM. Biochem Med. 2019;20702.
11.
Cornes M, Ibarz M, Ivanov H, Grankvist K. Blood sampling guidelines with focus on patient safety and identification -a review. Diagnosis (Berl). 2019;33–7.
12.
Procedures for collection of diagnostic blood specimens by venipuncture. CLSI document GP41. 2017;
13.
Stonys R, Banys V, Vitkus D, Lima-Oliveira G. Can chewing gum be another source of preanalytical variability in fasting outpatients? EJIFCC. 2020;28–45.
14.
Mrazek C, Lippi G, Keppel M, Felder T, Oberkofler H, Haschke-Becher E, et al. Errors within the total laboratory testing process, from test selection to medical decision-making -a review of causes, consequences, surveillance and solutions. Biochem Med. 2020;20502.
15.
Giavarina D, Lippi G. Blood venous sample collection: recommendations overview and a checklist to improve quality. Clin Biochem. 2017;568–73.
16.
Lima-Oliveira G, Volanski W, Lippi G, Picheth G, Guidi G. Pre-analytical phase management: a review of the procedures from patient preparation to laboratory analysis. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2017;153–63.
17.
Lippi G, Meyer V, Cadamuro A, Simundic J, A. Blood sample quality. Diagnosis (Berl). 2019;25–31.
18.
Sonmez C, Yıldız U, Akkaya N, Taneli F. Preanalytical phase errors: experience of a central laboratory. Cureus. 2020;7335.
19.
Cornes M, Church S, Van Dongen-Lases E, Grankvist K, Guimarães J, Ibarz M, et al. Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE) and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM). The role of European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group for Preanalytical Phase in standardization and harmonization of the preanalytical phase in Europe. Ann Clin Biochem. 2016;539–47.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.