For many types of blood tests patients are required to fast for several hours beforehand. This means you can’t eat or drink anything accept for water prior to your test. It may seem like a frustrating requirement but it’s for a good reason.
Simply put – eating or drinking could affect the results of your test.
Vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are absorbed into your bloodstream when you eat or drink. These nutrients can skew the test resulting in inaccurate results and a possible misdiagnosis.
Some blood tests that require fasting include:
Your provider will advise you if fasting is required and how long you will need to do it before your test. We also recommend scheduling your test first thing in the morning. The time you spend sleeping counts towards the fasting period and it will make it easier for you to avoid eating.
As always, we are here to answer any questions you may have!
