FISCHBACH'S A MANUAL OF
LABORATORY AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.
11TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)FRANCES FISCHBACH;
MARGARET FISCHBACH; KATE STOUT
TESTBANKS
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic Testing
Stem
A 67-year-old man scheduled for morning fasting blood tests
ate a sandwich at 06:30 before his 08:00 draw. The laboratory
phones to report the specimen as “nonfasting.” Which is the
nurse’s best action?
A. Tell the lab to proceed; minor postprandial changes will not
affect interpretation.
B. Document the nonfasting status, but allow the lab to analyze
,and report values with a note.
C. Cancel the tests and reschedule for the patient to return
fasting the next morning.
D. Collect the specimen anyway and inform the provider to
interpret values cautiously.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): Chapter 1 emphasizes documenting preanalytic
factors such as fasting status because interpretation requires
that context; many labs will run the specimen but require
documentation so clinicians can interpret results appropriately.
The nurse’s role is to accurately record pretest conditions rather
than automatically canceling or assuming minimal impact.
Incorrect (A): Minimizing the effect is unsafe—some analytes
(e.g., glucose, triglycerides) are affected by recent intake;
documentation is required.
Incorrect (C): Automatic cancellation may delay care
unnecessarily; rescheduling is only necessary when the test
requires strict fasting for valid interpretation and the provider
requests retesting.
Incorrect (D): Collecting without documentation fails to
communicate an important preanalytic variable; proper
documentation plus provider notification if values are
unexpected is the correct process.
,Teaching point
Always document preanalytic conditions (fasting, medications,
activity) to ensure correct interpretation.
Citation
Fischbach, F., Fischbach, M., & Stout, K. (2021). A Manual of
Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic Testing
Stem
A nurse obtains a blood specimen but notices the label on the
tube lacks the patient’s date of birth and the time of collection.
The sample is about to be sent to the lab. What is the best
immediate nursing action?
A. Send the specimen with a verbal report to the lab and
correct documentation in the chart later.
B. Add the missing information on the tube label and send it.
C. Discard the specimen and redraw with complete labeling
before sending.
D. Send the tube and request the lab add the missing identifiers
when they receive it.
Correct answer
C
, Rationales
Correct (C): Chapter 1 highlights that accurate patient
identification and collection time are essential preanalytic
requirements; specimens with incomplete labeling must be
recollected to prevent misidentification and reporting errors.
Incorrect (A): Verbal reports cannot substitute for proper
specimen labeling; sending an unlabeled or incompletely
labeled specimen risks patient safety.
Incorrect (B): Adding identifiers after collection but before
proper verification may risk errors; best practice is to relabel
only following facility policy and often requires redraw.
Incorrect (D): Labs typically reject improperly labeled
specimens; relying on the lab to add identifiers is not
acceptable.
Teaching point
Specimens with incomplete or missing patient identifiers must
be recollected per safety protocols.
Citation
Fischbach, F., Fischbach, M., & Stout, K. (2021). A Manual of
Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic Testing
LABORATORY AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.
11TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)FRANCES FISCHBACH;
MARGARET FISCHBACH; KATE STOUT
TESTBANKS
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic Testing
Stem
A 67-year-old man scheduled for morning fasting blood tests
ate a sandwich at 06:30 before his 08:00 draw. The laboratory
phones to report the specimen as “nonfasting.” Which is the
nurse’s best action?
A. Tell the lab to proceed; minor postprandial changes will not
affect interpretation.
B. Document the nonfasting status, but allow the lab to analyze
,and report values with a note.
C. Cancel the tests and reschedule for the patient to return
fasting the next morning.
D. Collect the specimen anyway and inform the provider to
interpret values cautiously.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): Chapter 1 emphasizes documenting preanalytic
factors such as fasting status because interpretation requires
that context; many labs will run the specimen but require
documentation so clinicians can interpret results appropriately.
The nurse’s role is to accurately record pretest conditions rather
than automatically canceling or assuming minimal impact.
Incorrect (A): Minimizing the effect is unsafe—some analytes
(e.g., glucose, triglycerides) are affected by recent intake;
documentation is required.
Incorrect (C): Automatic cancellation may delay care
unnecessarily; rescheduling is only necessary when the test
requires strict fasting for valid interpretation and the provider
requests retesting.
Incorrect (D): Collecting without documentation fails to
communicate an important preanalytic variable; proper
documentation plus provider notification if values are
unexpected is the correct process.
,Teaching point
Always document preanalytic conditions (fasting, medications,
activity) to ensure correct interpretation.
Citation
Fischbach, F., Fischbach, M., & Stout, K. (2021). A Manual of
Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic Testing
Stem
A nurse obtains a blood specimen but notices the label on the
tube lacks the patient’s date of birth and the time of collection.
The sample is about to be sent to the lab. What is the best
immediate nursing action?
A. Send the specimen with a verbal report to the lab and
correct documentation in the chart later.
B. Add the missing information on the tube label and send it.
C. Discard the specimen and redraw with complete labeling
before sending.
D. Send the tube and request the lab add the missing identifiers
when they receive it.
Correct answer
C
, Rationales
Correct (C): Chapter 1 highlights that accurate patient
identification and collection time are essential preanalytic
requirements; specimens with incomplete labeling must be
recollected to prevent misidentification and reporting errors.
Incorrect (A): Verbal reports cannot substitute for proper
specimen labeling; sending an unlabeled or incompletely
labeled specimen risks patient safety.
Incorrect (B): Adding identifiers after collection but before
proper verification may risk errors; best practice is to relabel
only following facility policy and often requires redraw.
Incorrect (D): Labs typically reject improperly labeled
specimens; relying on the lab to add identifiers is not
acceptable.
Teaching point
Specimens with incomplete or missing patient identifiers must
be recollected per safety protocols.
Citation
Fischbach, F., Fischbach, M., & Stout, K. (2021). A Manual of
Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic Testing
