Which Blood Tests Require You to Fast?

Are you due for a blood test soon but do not know if it requires you to fast or not? This blog provides you with all the essential information you need to know about blood tests that require fasting.

There are many general tests that do not require you to fast. To conduct them, all you need to do is provide a sample, and wait to get the result. However, certain blood tests require you to fast as food and drinks can alter their results.

The following are examples of blood tests that require fasting:

Lipid Profile

A lipid profile, in layperson’s terms, is your complete cholesterol test. If you are unaware, there are two types of cholesterol in our body: the good and the bad. The test determines the amount of cholesterol in your body.

Using this information, you can alter your diet and lifestyle to increase the good cholesterol and decrease the bad cholesterol in order to lead a healthier life.

If you are wondering why this blood test requires fasting, the most straightforward answer is that every meal we consume can affect the blood test result. So, in order to prevent a false reading, you should fast before getting this blood test done.

Liver Function Test

A liver function test is quite self-explanatory. This test deals with the entire functioning of your liver. It indicates if your liver is performing properly (according to its age) or it is underperforming.

The reason you need to fast before this test is that consuming food alter its result.

Blood Glucose Test

A blood glucose test is one of the most common blood tests in the world. People usually get these tests done for different reasons. However, one of the most common reasons to conduct this test is to determine if you have developed any of the two types of diabetes. Furthermore, you could plan and take measures to prevent your health from deteriorating.

Renal Function Test

A renal function test is another blood test that requires fasting. This test is conducted to assess your kidney functioning. It provides doctors with critical data that can be used to keep your kidneys healthy.

You are required to fast before the test because consuming meals or drinks can alter the exact readings of your kidney health, and incorrect results can adversely affect the recovery plan.

Metabolic Panel Test

The last test on our list for which you need to fast is a metabolic panel test. This test details the report of our entire metabolism function. We need to fast for it because every meal significantly affects our metabolic system. Hence, if we start a treatment based on incorrect findings, the treatment will be unsuccessful, and it can lead to further deterioration in our health.

Final Word

Some blood tests require fasting, whereas others do not, which has often caused a lot of confusion among people. Therefore, in this blog, we have highlighted the blood tests that require you to fast.