A comprehensive guide to preparing for medical examinations and tests

To ensure you receive accurate and reliable results from your laboratory tests, thorough preparation and proper body conditioning are crucial. You must always follow all the test instructions provided by the laboratory technician precisely.

It is essential to inform the technician of all medications, vitamins, or dietary supplements you are currently taking or have taken in the past few months, as some can directly affect the accuracy of the results. If you are unable to meet any of the test requirements (such as forgetting to fast), you must inform the technician immediately before the sample is taken.

Fasting is one of the most common requirements, meaning abstaining from food and drink (except water) for a period usually ranging from 8 to 12 hours, because food affects the levels of many substances in the bloodstream. The required fasting period varies depending on the type of test, so always be sure to ask the lab technician about the specific duration for your case.

Other general instructions

Other preparations may include:

Avoiding certain foods and drinks (such as cooked meat or alcohol).

Not overeating the day before.

Avoiding smoking, strenuous exercise, or sexual activity.

Discontinuing certain medications (after consulting a doctor).

Select the analysis category to see detailed instructions