title: Patient-reported fasting status for glucose-tolerance testing compared with fasting status identified by total bile-acid concentrations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether patients follow advice regarding the duration of a fast, prior to blood tests which require an overnight fast for their correct interpretation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred for a glucose-tolerance test gave informed consent. They were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the duration of their fast, and an additional blood sample was collected for fasting total bile-acid measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  184 patients were recruited. The median duration of fast self reported by patients was 14 h (range 12-26 h). Total bile-acid concentrations were within the fasting reference range except for six individuals. The median total bile-acid concentration found was 2.1 μmol/l (range 0.1-19.5 μmol/l).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients who self-reported a duration of fast reported a fast recognised as being adequate for fasting blood tests. This was confirmed in almost all by low normal total bile-acid measurements, which were well within the fasting range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Upton, Wirral, UK. msargazi@nhs.net
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sargazi
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Neithercut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D001786:Blood Glucose