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Current Practice and Regional Variability in Recommendations for Patient Preparation for Laboratory Testing in
Maria Salinas1,2, Maite López-Garrigós1, Emilio Flores1,3
1Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, San Juan de Alicante, Spain.
Patient preparation for lab tests shows significant variability across Spanish laboratories. Many centers do not consistently follow international guidelines for fasting and test recommendations.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Laboratory Medicine
- Diagnostic Testing
Background:
- Patient preparation is critical for accurate laboratory test results.
- Current practices and regional variations in preparation recommendations are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate current practices in patient preparation for laboratory testing.
- To identify regional variability in these recommendations across Spain.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed via email to Spanish laboratories.
- Data collection involved inviting laboratories to complete and submit the survey.
Main Results:
- Sixty-eight laboratories participated.
- Fasting was recommended in 73% of labs, irrespective of tests ordered.
- Only one-third of labs recommended a 12-hour fast; 71% allowed unrestricted water intake.
- Computerized systems for customized recommendations were available in 57% of labs.
Conclusions:
- Significant variability exists in patient preparation recommendations for laboratory tests.
- A notable percentage of laboratories deviate from established international guidelines.
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