Patient Test Preparation

Hematological Tests

There is no specific dietary requirement before the blood draw. It is advisable for the patient to avoid consuming fatty meals and alcohol before the test and to inform the laboratory staff about any intake of medications, vitamins, and dietary supplements.

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Biochemical Tests

• Glucose: 12-hour fasting before the blood draw.

• Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Apolipoproteins: 12-hour fasting before the blood draw.

• Creatinine: 2-hour fasting before the blood draw.

• Iron (Fe): 12-hour fasting before the blood draw without taking dietary supplements or vitamins. The blood draw should be done in the morning. Iron levels drop by 30%-50% in case of an afternoon blood draw.

• Total Calcium (Ca): The blood draw is done in the morning.

• Folic Acid: 8-hour fasting before the blood draw.

• Total Vitamins: 24-hour abstinence from dietary supplements, vitamins, and alcohol.

• Vitamins A, C, E: 12-hour to 14-hour fasting before the blood draw.

Cultures

• Urine Culture: The preferred sample is the first morning urine, midstream, after external washing of the area with soap. Collect your urine in a special sterile container (urobox) that you can obtain from our laboratory or a nearby pharmacy. Immediate transport – within one hour of collection – to the laboratory is recommended, or if this is not possible, store it in the refrigerator. Inform the laboratory staff if you are taking antibiotics.

• Vaginal Swab Culture: Avoid washing with antiseptic. External washing with soap is indicated. Avoid vaginal suppositories and sexual intercourse before taking the culture, and of course, make sure you are not menstruating.

• Urethral Swab Culture: No urination for two hours before the test. No sexual intercourse.

• Prostatic Fluid Culture: No urination for 2 hours before the test.

• Stool Culture, Parasitological Examination, Detection of Clostridium difficile Ag and Toxin: Suitable sample: Watery stool. Collect your stool in a sterile container (urobox) at any time of the day. A small amount of sample is sufficient. Transport the sample to the laboratory within 2 hours.

Hormone Tests

• Thyroid Function Tests: The blood draw can be done at any time of the day. For individuals taking daily medication for various thyroid conditions, the blood draw is recommended in the morning and before taking the medication.

• PTH (Parathyroid Hormone): 12-hour fasting before the blood draw, morning blood draw.

• ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone): Morning blood draw, fasting before the blood draw.

• ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone): 8-hour fasting before the blood draw, morning blood draw.

• Plasma Adrenaline: Fasting and no smoking for 4 hours before the blood draw.

• Growth Hormone (GH): 8-hour fasting and 30 minutes of immobility before the blood draw.

• Renin at Rest and Exercise (Supine and Standing Position): No diuretics, antihypertensives, and caffeine for 24 hours before the blood draw.

• Aldosterone at Rest and Exercise: 15 to 35 hours before the blood draw, no diuretics and antihypertensives. For three weeks, a diet with sodium 100 to 200 mmol/24h.

• Gastrin: 12-hour fasting before the blood draw.

• Δ4 Androstenedione (Δ4A): Morning blood draw.

• Prolactin: Morning blood draw. Two hours after waking up in the morning. Between the 2nd and 5th day of the cycle.

• FSH, LH, Androgens: Between the 2nd and 5th day of the cycle.

• Estradiol: 14th day of the cycle.

• Progesterone: 21st day of the cycle.

• β-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG): The most suitable day for the test is the 2nd day of a missed period, or in case of IVF, the 14th day after embryo transfer.

• Cortisol: The blood draw is recommended between 8 and 10 a.m. or 6 and 8 p.m.

Drug Levels Morning blood draw

Before taking the medication.

Cancer Markers

The blood draw can be done at any time of the day. Fasting is not required before the blood draw. In case of a 5-HIAA test, the patient should avoid foods rich in indoles (avocado, banana, tomato, plum, walnut, pineapple, eggplant), tobacco, tea, and coffee 72 hours before, during, and while collecting a 24-hour urine sample.

Glucose Tolerance Test/Glucose Curve

Three days before the test, the patient follows a diet rich in carbohydrates, avoiding alcoholic beverages and intense physical exercise. The test is done in the morning (8-10 a.m.) after a 12-hour fast. The glucose tolerance test/glucose curve is used for the early diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus, especially in cases where the fasting glucose level is close to the normal range.

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How is it done?

• The test lasts 2 hours.

• At the start of the test, the doctor will take a blood sample to measure your fasting glucose.

• Then, you will be given a sweet solution containing glucose to drink within 5 minutes.

• The number of blood draws is determined and specified by your treating physician.

• Attention! Throughout the duration of the test, you should remain seated, do not smoke, and of course, do not eat or drink anything until the test is completed.