When do you need to fast and do it safely before some blood tests?
Blood tests help assess the condition of organs and evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing treatment.
Fasting is required before certain blood tests to maintain the accuracy of the test results. It generally involves not eating or drinking anything but water for 8-12 hours prior to the test.
Why is fasting important before a blood test?
When we consume food or fluids, they are broken down in our stomach and absorbed into the bloodstream. This can change the level of a particular substance in the blood, such as sugar, iron, cholesterol, etc.
Hence, it’s important to observe a fast before a blood test to maintain the accuracy of results.
Before which tests fasting is necessary?
Fasting isn’t necessary for all types of blood tests. Following are some tests that require fasting:
Cholesterol Test
As the name suggests, the cholesterol test helps identify the amount of good & bad cholesterol levels in a person’s body. It’s a vital tool for detecting cardiovascular disease and requires 9-12 hours of fasting prior to the test.
Basic or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
The basic or comprehensive metabolic panel is usually part of a routine health checkup and involves checking blood sugar, electrolyte & fluid balance, and liver & kidney function. It requires 10-12 hours of fasting before the test.
Iron Blood Test
Used to detect the amount of iron in a person’s blood, the iron blood test necessitates fasting from the morning and not taking any type of supplement for 1 day before the test.
Vitamin B12 Test
The Vitamin B12 test is generally used to diagnose a certain kind of anemia and other issues by determining the amount of Vitamin B12 in the blood. It requires 6-8 hours of fasting along with the non-consumption of specific medications as advised by the doctor.
Besides these 5 tests, the following are some tests that also require fasting:
- Triglyceride Level Test
- High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Level Test
- Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Level Test
- Liver Function Test
- Renal Function Panel
- Lipoprotein Panel
What are the things you can do and avoid before taking a blood test?
In addition to food & drinks, here are some more things that can interfere with blood test results and hence need to be avoided:
- Alcohol: Alcohol consumption can elevate the sugar & fat levels in the blood
- Smoking: Smoking can increase the white blood cells level in the blood
- Caffeine: Caffeine can affect digestive health
- Exercises: Exercise speeds up digestion
- Chewing gum: Chewing gum can also speed up digestion
When can you drink and eat again after taking a test?
Once the blood test is concluded, you can break your fast and eat. Food consumption helps ward off any potential weakness that can be caused by the extraction of blood from the body.
Conclusion
The decision of fasting, whether it be how long to fast before blood test or which ongoing medications to avoid, should be solely based on the doctor’s recommendation.
If you experience weakness during fasting, you should contact the doctor immediately for the best advice.
If you are looking to get a blood test done in Mulund or nearby areas, then get in touch with the experts at Clinico!
Call us 24×7 on 9504555555 to book an appointment.
