Table of Contents

Component Description

The phlebotomy component of NHANES involved the collection of blood specimens. Prior to blood collection, the MEC phlebotomist administered a questionnaire to screen for conditions that would exclude participants from the blood draw. At this time, fasting status was determined. Blood specimens for basic hematology, nutritional biochemistry, and special studies were obtained.

Blood specimens were collected on participants aged one year and older in the Mobile Examination Center (MEC).

Eligible Sample

Participants aged 1 year and older were tested.

Description of Laboratory Methodology

The MEC phlebotomist drew blood from the participant’s arm. Participants with hemophilia or who received cancer chemotherapy in the past four weeks or will receive it in the future four weeks were excluded from the venipuncture.

Data Processing and Editing

Phlebotomy data were recorded directly into a computerized database; all forms used in the MEC were automated. Detailed phlebotomy collection and processing instructions are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory/Medical Technologists Procedures Manual (LPM).

Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring

The NHANES quality control and quality assurance protocols (QA/QC) meet the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act mandates. Detailed quality control and quality assurance instructions are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory/Medical Technologists Procedures Manual (LPM).

Analytic Notes

The analysis of NHANES 2003-2004 laboratory data must be conducted with the key survey design and basic demographic variables. The NHANES 2003-2004 Household Questionnaire Data Files contain demographic data, health indicators, and other related information collected during household interviews. They also contain all survey design variables and sample weights for these age groups. The phlebotomy file includes auxiliary information such as the conditions precluding venipuncture. The household questionnaire and phlebotomy files may be linked to the laboratory data file using the unique survey participant identifier SEQN.

Use PHAFSTHR and PHAFSTMN to determine the duration of fasting in hours and minutes, respectively.

Use PHDSESN to determine the session in which the participant was examined.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS

PHQ020 - Coffee or tea with cream or sugar?

Variable Name:
PHQ020
SAS Label:
Coffee or tea with cream or sugar?
English Text:
Coffee or tea with cream or sugar? [Include milk or non-dairy creamers.]
English Instructions:
Have you had any of the following since the fasting time in variable PHQ010. PHQ010: When was the last time you ate or drank anything other than plain water? [Do not include diet soda, black coffee or tea with saccharine or Equal.] (Note: Variable PHQ010 was not released as part of this data set because of disclosure issues)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 64 64
2 No 8949 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHACOFHR - Coffee/tea fast time (hours)

Variable Name:
PHACOFHR
SAS Label:
Coffee/tea fast time (hours)
English Text:
Coffee/tea fast time (hours)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 21 Range of Values 64 64
. Missing 9115 9179

PHACOFMN - Coffee/tea fast time (minutes)

Variable Name:
PHACOFMN
SAS Label:
Coffee/tea fast time (minutes)
English Text:
Coffee/tea fast time (minutes)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 59 Range of Values 64 64
. Missing 9115 9179

PHQ030 - Alcohol, such as beer, wine, or liquor?

Variable Name:
PHQ030
SAS Label:
Alcohol, such as beer, wine, or liquor?
English Text:
Alcohol, such as beer, wine, or liquor?
English Instructions:
Have you had any of the following since the fasting time in variable PHQ010. PHQ010: When was the last time you ate or drank anything other than plain water? [Do not include diet soda, black coffee or tea with saccharine or Equal.] (Note: Variable PHQ010 was not released as part of this data set because of disclosure issues)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 16 16
2 No 8997 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHAALCHR - Alcohol fast time (hours)

Variable Name:
PHAALCHR
SAS Label:
Alcohol fast time (hours)
English Text:
Alcohol fast time (hours)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 19 Range of Values 16 16
. Missing 9163 9179

PHAALCMN - Alcohol fast time (minutes)

Variable Name:
PHAALCMN
SAS Label:
Alcohol fast time (minutes)
English Text:
Alcohol fast time (minutes)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 57 Range of Values 16 16
. Missing 9163 9179

PHQ040 - Gum, mints, lozenges or cough drops

Variable Name:
PHQ040
SAS Label:
Gum, mints, lozenges or cough drops
English Text:
Gum, breath mints, lozenges or cough drops, or other cough or cold remedies?
English Instructions:
Have you had any of the following since the fasting time in variable PHQ010. PHQ010: When was the last time you ate or drank anything other than plain water? [Do not include diet soda, black coffee or tea with saccharine or Equal.] (Note: Variable PHQ010 was not released as part of this data set because of disclosure issues)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 132 132
2 No 8881 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHAGUMHR - Gum, mints cough drops fast time (hours)

Variable Name:
PHAGUMHR
SAS Label:
Gum, mints cough drops fast time (hours)
English Text:
Gum, mints cough drops fast time (hours)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 18 Range of Values 132 132
. Missing 9047 9179

PHAGUMMN - Gum, mints, cough fast time (minutes)

Variable Name:
PHAGUMMN
SAS Label:
Gum, mints, cough fast time (minutes)
English Text:
Gum, mints, cough fast time (minutes)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 58 Range of Values 132 132
. Missing 9047 9179

PHQ050 - Antacids, laxatives, or anti-diarrheals?

Variable Name:
PHQ050
SAS Label:
Antacids, laxatives, or anti-diarrheals?
English Text:
Antacids, laxatives, or anti-diarrheals?
English Instructions:
Have you had any of the following since the fasting time in variable PHQ010. PHQ010: When was the last time you ate or drank anything other than plain water? [Do not include diet soda, black coffee or tea with saccharine or Equal.] (Note: Variable PHQ010 was not released as part of this data set because of disclosure issues)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 13 13
2 No 9000 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHAANTHR - Antacids, laxatives fast time (hours)

Variable Name:
PHAANTHR
SAS Label:
Antacids, laxatives fast time (hours)
English Text:
Antacids, laxatives fast time (hours)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 12 Range of Values 13 13
. Missing 9166 9179

PHAANTMN - Antacids, laxatives fast time (minutes)

Variable Name:
PHAANTMN
SAS Label:
Antacids, laxatives fast time (minutes)
English Text:
Antacids, laxatives fast time (minutes)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
17 to 59 Range of Values 13 13
. Missing 9166 9179

PHQ060 - Dietary supplements?

Variable Name:
PHQ060
SAS Label:
Dietary supplements?
English Text:
Dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals? [Include multivitamins and single nutrient supplements.]
English Instructions:
Have you had any of the following since the fasting time in variable PHQ010. PHQ010: When was the last time you ate or drank anything other than plain water? [Do not include diet soda, black coffee or tea with saccharine or Equal.] (Note: Variable PHQ010 was not released as part of this data set because of disclosure issues)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 57 57
2 No 8956 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHASUPHR - Dietary supplements fast time (hours)

Variable Name:
PHASUPHR
SAS Label:
Dietary supplements fast time (hours)
English Text:
Dietary supplements fast time (hours)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 15 Range of Values 57 57
. Missing 9122 9179

PHASUPMN - Dietary supplements fast time (minutes)

Variable Name:
PHASUPMN
SAS Label:
Dietary supplements fast time (minutes)
English Text:
Dietary supplements fast time (minutes)
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 59 Range of Values 57 57
. Missing 9122 9179

PHAFSTHR - Total length of "food fast," hours

Variable Name:
PHAFSTHR
SAS Label:
Total length of "food fast," hours
English Text:
The time (in hours) between when the examinee last ate or drank anything other than water and the time of the venipuncture.
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 184 Range of Values 9013 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHAFSTMN - Total length of "food fast," minutes

Variable Name:
PHAFSTMN
SAS Label:
Total length of "food fast," minutes
English Text:
The time (in minutes) between when the examinee last ate or drank anything other than water and the time of the venipuncture.
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 59 Range of Values 9013 9013
. Missing 166 9179

PHDSESN - Session in which SP was examined

Variable Name:
PHDSESN
SAS Label:
Session in which SP was examined
English Text:
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Morning 4297 4297
1 Afternoon 3400 7697
2 Evening 1482 9179
. Missing 0 9179