Performing blood tests is essential within health routines. Tests serve to identify pathologies and prevent future problems. Even though people are used to the procedure, it is common for doubts to arise regarding the preparation before the collection.
What is the correct fasting time? Is it possible to drink alcohol the day before the test? Can women take blood during menstruation? The technical director of the Clinical Analysis Laboratory (LANAC), in Paraná, Marcos Kozlowski says that doubts are common because many myths circulate on the subject.
“There is still a lot of misinformation regarding the correct way to prepare for a blood test. Thinking that you always need to fast for 12 hours or that you can’t perform the test with the flu or cold are some of them”, says Kozlowski.
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The expert suggests that people seek information from the laboratory to check if any special preparation is needed for the prescribed exam. He claims that, in general, care is simple. See answers to the most common questions:
- Do imaging tests before blood collection interfere with the results?Yes. Some imaging tests may require the use of contrast, which is a chemical substance applied to improve imaging results.
The recommendation is that laboratory tests be performed before performing the imaging tests or following 72 hours. - Does the menstrual period interfere with the test results?Yes. Hormonal dosages are altered according to the menstrual period, so all women should be asked regarding their last menstruation before carrying out the tests.
- Does smoking before the test change the results?Yes. Smoking can cause changes in some tests such as glucose. The ideal is not to smoke on the day of the exam.
- Can drinking alcoholic beverages change the results?Yes. Alcohol consumption 72 hours before the exams can interfere with the results of cholesterol and glucose, as it interferes with the metabolism of sugars. It is important to respect the 72-hour period without ingestion of alcoholic beverages before the exam.
- Exams that require fasting can only be performed in the morning?Do not. Respect for fasting time is the only request, but the exam can be performed at any time of the day.
- Do all exams need to be preceded by fasting?Do not. Since 2016, the Brazilian Consensus for the Standardization of the Laboratory Determination of the Lipid Profile removed the need to fast to measure blood fat levels, so there is no longer a need to fast for 12 hours before tests that measure cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the blood. For the other categories of exams, the same recommendations remain: 3, 4 or 8 hours without ingesting food, being allowed the consumption of water in moderation.
- Can drinking too much water interfere with the results?
Yes. Water does not break the fast, but if consumed in excess there may be changes in the results of urine tests, for example. - Can’t you get tested if you have the flu or a cold?
There is no impediment to carrying out tests when you have the flu or a cold, including, in some cases, the test is done to find out if there is an infection that may be related to the flu condition. What can interfere with the results is a very high fever, so it is necessary to notify the laboratory in this case. - Does a good night’s sleep help results?
Yes. A healthy night’s sleep brings countless benefits to the body, and certainly, a bad night’s sleep can cause changes in blood levels. There are tests that can only be performed following resting, such as prolactin, for example. - Is it advisable to eat a healthier diet before the exam?
A healthy diet should be part of people’s routine, but when the person does not have this habit and decides to change their eating pattern in the days before the exam, it can be harmful, as it can mask the true results.
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