Dos and Don’ts Before a Blood test

A Blood Test is the most commonly prescribed laboratory test by doctors to diagnose any specific disease or evaluate the patient's overall health. Most patients are recommended to undergo a blood test before any surgical procedure. This is because blood tests can help the surgeon rule out the presence of any major blood disorder that can hamper the surgery and its outcomes. Also, it helps in tracing any inflammation or infection in the body.

Types of Blood Tests

While different types of blood tests can be suggested by doctors, some of them are:

• Complete Blood Count [CBC]
• HbA1c, Glycated Hemoglobin
• Lipid Profile Test
• Thyroid Profile
• Blood Urea Nitrogen [BUN]
• Creatinine Serum

The doctor would suggest an appropriate blood test based on the symptoms of the patient.

Uses of Blood Test

A blood test, also known as blood analysis or blood work, is a laboratory examination where a sample of blood is examined to obtain information about its physical and chemical properties. Based on the results, doctors can track how well the patient is managing the medical condition. Blood tests can help in:

• Diagnosing certain diseases and medical conditions.
• Monitoring acute and chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and anaemia.
• Finding the appropriate treatment course for a specific disease.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing treatment.
• Evaluating the well-being of internal organs such as kidneys, spleen, heart, thyroid, and liver.
• Finding health problems in early stages.
• Diagnosing different types of bleeding and clotting disorders.
• Finding out whether the patient's immune system is normal or abnormal [any trouble in fighting infections].

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Do’s Before a Blood Test

Following are some of the do’s that one should follow before a blood test.

• Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Calm down and relax for 10-15 minutes before the withdrawal of the blood.
• Inform the doctor about the medications, vitamins or supplements that you’ve been taking. 

• Follow the doctor's instructions if you are getting a blood test during your menstrual cycle.
• Get enough sleep the night before the blood test.

Don’ts Before a Blood Test

Following are some of the don’ts that one should follow before a blood test.

• Don’t eat or drink anything except water for 8 to 12 hours before getting the blood test.
• Do not stop any medication without consulting the doctor.
• Don’t eat heavy, fatty, and fried food items 1-2 days before the test day.

• Try to avoid performing heavy exercises a day before the blood test.
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol for 24 hours before the blood test.
• Blood tests are not usually recommended after physiotherapy, massage therapy, or reflexotherapy. So, try to avoid any of these before undergoing a blood test.

By any chance, if you miss or deviated from the above-mentioned instructions, we suggest you contact the doctor.

The Bottomline

The doctor recommends a specific type of blood test based on the medical condition. One should know about the do’s and don’ts before a blood test as they can help the patient to prepare for the blood test.

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