How to prepare for lab tests: fasting, water, medicines, timing and urine samples โ by Atlas Labs.
Good preparation makes results more accurate. These are the key rules; each test page has its details.
Fast 8โ12 hours only for fasting sugar and lipids. Water is fine; coffee, tea and smoking are not.
A glass or two of water before the test makes the vein clearer and the draw easier.
Never stop a medicine on your own. Tell us what you take; some tests are drawn before your dose.
Hormones such as prolactin and testosterone are best early in the morning; FSH and LH on day 2 or 3 of the cycle.
First morning urine, midstream, in the sterile lab container โ delivered within two hours.
Avoid hard exercise the day before; it raises muscle and liver enzymes for a while.
Open the test page to see its specific preparation.
PKG-BASICThe 8 key tests to check your health once a year.
PKG-FULLA complete check with 16 tests covering blood, sugar, heart, liver, kidneys, thyroid and vitamins.
PKG-PREA check for couples before marriage: blood, blood group, viruses, sugar and inherited anaemias.
CBCThe most common blood test: measures red and white cells, platelets and haemoglobin, and detects anaemia and infections.
FERRThe best test of the bodyโs iron stores โ it shows iron deficiency before anaemia appears.
FBSGlucose after an 8-hour fast โ the first step to find diabetes and prediabetes.
HbA1cYour average blood sugar over the last 3 months โ the key test for diabetes follow-up, no fasting...
TSHThe first thyroid test: picks up an under- or over-active thyroid before symptoms are obvious.
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