But which blood tests require fasting, and how can people fast safely? A person does not always need to fast before a blood test. When a blood test requires fasting, it is typically needed for a short time only. Even so, the idea of not eating or drinking, even for a small amount of time, may seem daunting. Understanding when and how to fast before a blood test can help reduce unnecessary worry.
This article explores the types of blood tests that require fasting, why fasting is necessary, and how an individual can do it safely. Whether someone needs to fast or not before a blood test depends on the type of blood test they need to undergo.
Some blood tests require fasting to provide accurate results, while others do not. A fasting blood glucose test can help diagnose diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that can lead to excessive amounts of sugar in the blood. A fasting blood glucose test measures levels of sugar in the blood to see whether they are healthy. It is important that an individual has not had anything to eat or drink other than water for 8—10 hours before a fasting blood glucose test.
A person will typically fast overnight and do the test early in the morning. Fasting helps ensure that the blood test records an accurate measure of fasting blood sugar levels. The results help a doctor diagnose or rule out diabetes. Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood. High cholesterol can lead to an increased risk of certain health conditions. Blood cholesterol tests, also known as lipid profiles, assess the quantities of fats in the blood.
Tests that typically require fasting include:. Yes, you can drink water while fasting before a blood test—in fact, drinking plenty of water can help ensure that you receive accurate test results.
Dehydration can affect certain blood tests such as cholesterol, electrolyte and BUN tests. Be sure to stay hydrated before your test by drinking the recommended amount of water for your weight and activity level. Any beverage other than water should not be consumed before a blood test, unless approved by your healthcare provider. Alcohol, soda, and juice contain high quantities of sugar, which can interfere with many common test results.
Black coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages are diuretics, which can have a dehydrating effect and cause test results to be inaccurate. To do that, a health professional will:. In babies, blood draws are sometimes done as a "heel stick collection. Collecting a sample of blood is only temporarily uncomfortable and can feel like a quick pinprick. Parents usually can stay with their child during a blood test. Encourage your child to relax and stay still because tensing muscles can make it harder to draw blood.
Your child might want to look away when the needle is inserted and the blood is collected. Encourage your child to relax by taking slow deep breaths or singing a favorite song. Most blood tests take just a few minutes.
Occasionally, it can be hard to find a vein so the health professional may need to try more than once. The health professional will remove the elastic band and the needle and cover the area with cotton or a bandage to stop the bleeding. They also help keep your body working normally, including your heart rhythm, muscle contraction, and brain function. The kidneys help keep the right balance of water, salts, and minerals in the blood. They also filter out waste and other unneeded substances from the blood.
The liver helps with digestion and produces some vitamins and other substances that the body needs. It also controls the amounts of glucose, protein, and fat in the blood and releases substances that keep your immune system healthy. Your doctor may order a comprehensive metabolic panel as part of a regular health examination. Your doctor may use this test to check on a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, or to help diagnose a medical condition, such as diabetes.
This panel measures the blood levels of albumin, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, carbon dioxide, chloride, creatinine, glucose, potassium, sodium, total bilirubin and protein, and liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase.
Current as of: September 23,
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