When to Collect Blood Specimens: Midmorning vs Fasting Samples (Laboratory and Management‪)‬

Laboratory data are routinely expressed numerically without comments on their uncertainty. Furthermore, the specimens may have been collected any time during the working day for convenience and to equalize the need for personnel during working hours. However, insufficient data exist on the optimal quality:cost ratio of such elective routine specimen collection. Our study was designed to determine the magnitude of changes induced by deviating from the recommended and standardized procedures of collecting fasting specimens early in the morning. The purpose of this study was to provide a rational basis for deciding the regimen for routine specimen collection. Materials and Methods