If you have ever given blood for the private blood tests, you know that your physician must have told you that you need to fast for several hours prior to the test. Why we need to fast before giving our blood? Blood tests are the easiest, fastest and accurate means to know about the potential threat of your body. Not all blood tests require fasting. Different types of blood tests has different requirements.
The reason of fasting before blood test
When you eat, the food that gets dissolved into your stomach, reaches the bloodstream. This is how your body extract nutrients from the food. So if you have breakfast, the state of your blood changes. In certain tests, doctors need the accurate result when your blood is in the normal state. This way, your doctor can suggest the right kind of treatment for the health reasons you have. This is the reason, you need to fast for a few hours before giving the blood for the test.
When you fast, your blood is not affected by the nutrients your body extract from the food. This gives a precise view of your condition. Such an accurate result is suitable for the better treatment.
The following tests need fasting
Blood glucose and Glucose Tolerance Test
- Cholesterol, Lipid Profile, and Triglyceride test
- Kidney function test
- Liver Function Test
- Metabolic Panel
- Lipoprotein panel
- Several Vitamin Tests
These tests need fasting. Other than the above mentioned tests, you may encounter some type of specific level private blood tests that needs advanced diagnostic procedure. You can clarify with the physician before going to the lab to get your test done.
Here’s a quick thing on what you need to do and what you don’t before blood test!
What to do:
Asks the physician about the proper medical advice and stick to their guidelines.
- Ask them about the hours you need to fast before the test
- Ask if you are okay to take your regular medicines even before the blood test
- You are allowed to drink water but no hard food is allowed
- Inform your pathologist if you have eaten something accidentally.
What not to do:
Avoid smoking, chewing gum, and caffeine or other alcohol before the blood tests as they can give you an incorrect test result
- Don’t overfast. The general limit of fasting should be in between 8-12 hours. More than that is not healthy.
- You are not allowed to exercise before fasting as exercise would drain the excess of glucose from your body
This post deals with the education of why you need to fast during the private blood tests. Knowing the cause is a good thing to get the better benefit of the test result. Follow these “what to do and what not to do” list and you will be absolutely fine with the blood test.