A client at 20 weeks gestation states that she started consuming an increased amount of cornstarch about 3 weeks ago. Which laboratory test should the health care provider anticipate ordering?

The scenario describes a client who has significantly increased her consumption of cornstarch during her pregnancy. This could raise the concern of gestational diabetes or other metabolic disorders, as cornstarch is a carbohydrate that can influence glucose levels.

In this context, a white blood cell count may be relevant to assess whether there is an underlying infection or other conditions that could affect the pregnancy. However, the laboratory test most pertinent to this situation—given the context of dietary changes—would likely involve checking for glucose metabolism issues, so it appears there might be a misunderstanding with the chosen answer.

Instead, if the focus were on potential metabolic or nutritional complications related to carbohydrate intake, a more appropriate test might be a glucose tolerance test or monitoring hemoglobin and hematocrit levels for anemia, both of which are crucial during pregnancy.

The rise in carbohydrate intake warrants careful monitoring, as it can lead to gestational diabetes, which is a serious condition requiring management for the health of both the mother and the fetus. In such cases, glucose testing becomes a primary consideration.