Category: Laboratory medicine

According to research, malnutrition is estimated to affect 30–50% of hospital patients in Western countries. To combat this, a variety of laboratory tests are used to assess nutritional status, providing objective data on a patient's vitamin, mineral, and protein levels. These tests help healthcare providers identify specific deficiencies or excesses and guide appropriate interventions.

In 2017, the FDA issued a safety warning alerting healthcare providers and the public that supplemental biotin can interfere with certain lab tests, leading to falsely high or low results for various analytes. A common question that has arisen from this is, "Does biotin affect vitamin D?"—particularly concerning routine blood work.

Triglyceride levels over 500 mg/dL can cause a blood sample to become visibly cloudy or milky, a condition known as lipemia. This phenomenon is not merely a lab curiosity but is a key indicator of very high lipid concentrations that can affect both the accuracy of certain blood tests and a person's health. Understanding this threshold is crucial for both healthcare providers and patients.

The human body contains approximately 4 grams of iron, mostly in hemoglobin, which is vital for carrying oxygen. In both chemical and medical laboratories, the universally recognized symbol for iron is Fe. This symbol, derived from the Latin word 'ferrum,' provides a shorthand for identifying the element in lab tests, on the periodic table, and in scientific literature.

According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, pausing IV infusions for at least 2 minutes is crucial to avoid sample contamination, especially for substances like TPN. Properly managing how long to stop TPN prior to a blood draw ensures the accuracy of vital laboratory tests.

According to the World Health Organization, micronutrient deficiencies affect over two billion people globally, often without obvious symptoms. Various blood tests and other laboratory measurements are the most reliable methods for a healthcare provider to determine what labs are used to assess nutritional status, identifying nutrient deficiencies and imbalances before they become severe.

Studies suggest that malnutrition is prevalent in up to 50% of hospitalized patients, increasing the need for effective nutritional support like Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). To confirm if this therapy is working, healthcare professionals rely on a specific lab value, prealbumin, to provide evidence that the TPN is effective in improving the client's nutritional status.

According to the Centers Urgent Care, high-fat meals, sugary drinks, and alcohol can distort blood sugar levels and other vital measurements. A solid understanding of what foods can mess up a blood test is essential for anyone preparing for lab work, as improper diet can lead to inaccurate results and potentially a misdiagnosis.