The physician has ordered several laboratory tests for the client as part of a nutritional assessment. Which of the following laboratory tests provide the most accurate information regarding current nutritional status?

1. Prealbumin
2. Albumin
3. Transferrin
4. Total lymphocyte count


1

Rationale: Albumin, prealbumin, and transferring are classified as plasma proteins. Each of these proteins has a different half-life. Plasma proteins with short half-lives provide more current information about a client's nutritional status. Albumin has a long half-life, so it is not a very sensitive marker. Transferrin has a shorter half-life than albumin, but it is still not the best marker for nutritional status. Prealbumin's half-life is the shortest of the three plasma proteins and it can be used to evaluate a client's current nutritional status. The total lymphocyte count is more useful as a way to measure immunocompetence and is not used to measure a client's nutritional status.

Nursing

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Nursing