Which analytes must be rejected when a non-fasting specimen is collected due to fasting requirements?

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The test is checking which analytes rely on fasting to ensure accurate results. Lipid panels are highly affected by recent meals; triglycerides rise after eating, making the lipid values unreliable if the specimen isn’t drawn in a fasting state. Iron studies are also typically performed with fasting samples because serum iron and related measures can vary with recent iron intake and across the day, leading to misleading values if the patient didn’t fast. In contrast, liver function tests and thyroid tests are not significantly altered by a short fasting period, so non-fasting samples can still yield valid results for those panels. Therefore, the combination that must be rejected when a non-fasting specimen is collected due to fasting requirements is iron studies and the lipid panel.