Instructions on appropriate fasting prior to phlebotomy; effects on patient awareness, preparation, and biochemical parameters.

Without instruction, it appears few patients will fast appropriately prior to blood collection. This study suggests that most patients recall and adhere to verbal instructions regarding fasting. Though many in the control group stated they did not fast, triglyceride concentration and lipaemia were not significantly different from the intervention group, and biochemical analyses appear unaffected by fasting status.