American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam 2025 - Free Phlebotomy Practice Questions and Study Guide

A lipemic specimen is an important indicator that a patient has not been fasting. When a patient consumes fats, especially from food or drink close to the time of a blood draw, the serum can appear milky or turbid due to the high levels of lipids (fats) present. This can interfere with various laboratory tests, leading to inaccurate results. Therefore, observing a lipemic specimen suggests recent dietary intake, highlighting the patient's non-fasting status.

The other indicators, such as a clear serum, a fainting sensation, or bright red blood, do not reliably reflect whether a patient has fasted or not. Clear serum can occur under various conditions and does not provide specific information regarding fasting. Feeling faint could be related to several factors, including anxiety or dehydration, but doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of fasting. Lastly, bright red blood is a normal finding in healthy individuals and does not correlate with fasting status.