CompuNet Revises Fasting Requirement for Lipid Panels
Effective Sept. 16, CompuNet will no longer require patients to fast for lipid panels and the associated analytes, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides.
Current guidelines now recommend non-fasting for routine testing of lipid levels based on comparisons of non-fasting and fasting populations. A study published in JAMA, “Association of Nonfasting vs. Fasting Lipid Levels With Risk of Major Coronary Events in the ASCOT-LLA”1, found that measurement of non-fasting and fasting lipid levels yields similar results in the same individuals for association with incident coronary and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events.
The JAMA study did note, however, that non-fasting triglycerides were modestly higher. If a patient is non-fasting for a lipid panel or its associated analytes, the following comment will be added to the results report: “Non-fasting specimens may have modest increases in Triglyceride levels.” (JAMA Intern Med, 2019).
The removal of the fasting requirement will provide patients with greater flexibility when they utilize a CompuNet Patient Service Center. Fasting patients typically arrive at a Patient Service Center early in the morning; without the lipid fasting requirement, patients can now choose to arrive at a later time.
For questions regarding the lipid fasting requirement change, please contact your CompuNet account representative or call CompuNet Client Services at (937) 297-8260(937) 297-8260.
1 Mora, Lan Chang, Moorthy, Sever. (2019). Association of Nonfasting vs Fasting Lipid Levels With Risk of Major Coronary Events in the ASCOT-LLA. JAMA Intern. Med., Volume 179(7), 898-905. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0392
Back to the September 2019 issue of Premier Pulse
