Pharmacists use blood tests to measure levels of various elements in your blood to make a diagnosis, prescribe treatments or refer you to a GP or other specialists. These vital readings enable pharmacists, general practitioners, surgeons, and other medical professionals to make informed recommendations that align with your specific health needs.
Some of these blood tests, including a cholesterol blood test, will require you to avoid food (fast) before you go to your appointment. Fasting in this way allows testers to get the best picture of your body’s function without anything clouding the results. There are also blood tests that don’t require you to fast at all.
If you have just booked a fasted blood test and you’re curious about the best approach, read on as the Life Pharmacy team unpacks the difference between a fasting and non-fasting blood test, as well as some guidelines for safe fasting pre-test.
Fasting vs. Non-Fasting Blood Test: What to Know
Fasting Blood Test
A fasted blood test is when you don’t eat or drink anything (apart from water) in the 8 to 12 hours before your test appointment. Food and drinks create certain effects in your body that can skew the results of certain blood tests, so a fasted test is a quick, effective way for doctors and pharmacists to check in on your health without blood sugar spikes, caffeine, or calories clouding the way.
Blood tests you may need to fast for include:
- A basic metabolic panel, which measures how your body functions overall.
- A blood glucose test, which measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood without any food in your system.
- A cholesterol blood test, which checks out how much cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat) are in your blood.
- A liver function test, which looks at your liver health by checking on proteins in your blood.
- A renal function panel, which measures how well your kidneys are working.
Generally speaking, your GP or pharmacist will let you know if you should be fasting for the blood test they’ve recommended.
Non-Fasting Blood Test
Non-fasted blood tests don’t require you to stop eating or drinking before you come in for your appointment. These tests aren’t impacted by elevated sugars, fats, or proteins in your blood because they’re looking at other things, such as the amount of white blood cells in your body, or even the shape of your red blood cells. The specifics of your non-fasting blood test will depend on your prescriber.
Neither type of test is more or less accurate than the other; they’re just used for different purposes. A cholesterol blood test wouldn’t be as effective with food in your system, but there are many other results that are generally unaffected by whether you’ve had breakfast yet.
When in doubt, the best thing to do is to get in touch with the pharmacy or lab conducting your test. They will know whether your blood test needs to be fasted or not, so you can get the most accurate results.
How to Fast Safely for Your Blood Test
To fast for your blood test, you will need to stop eating or drinking anything, apart from water, for between 8 to 12 hours before the scheduled time of your test. These tests are usually done in the morning to make this fasting period as easy as possible on you, as you won’t need to eat or drink while you’re getting your eight hours of sleep. Plus, you won’t be able to consume caffeine while you fast, so a morning test can offer relief for people who love a morning cuppa.
That said, if you have not fasted for a blood test before or you are concerned about how to do it safely, here are some tips from the Life Pharmacy team:
1. Stay hydrated! You’re able to drink plain water while fasting, so try to consume a good amount of water to keep your body hydrated and happy while no calories are going in.
2. Pay attention to how you feel. If you start to feel very woozy or unwell while fasting, although this is unlikely for an 8-12 hour fast, call your test clinic, pharmacy, or GP to let them know and determine the next steps.
3. Have a good meal before you start the fast. Enjoy something with plenty of fibre and protein to keep your body full and satisfied, even while you’re fasting. Try not to consume something very high in carbohydrates, oil, or sugars, as this can create some serious cravings.
4. Book your test in the morning, if possible. Morning blood sugar or cholesterol blood test slots are ideal because they allow you to sleep most of the fasting period away with no issues.
5. Mention any medications or supplements. Unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you otherwise, you should continue taking any necessary medications as part of your fast. It’s a very good idea to mention these medications to the clinic or your GP when booking in.
Remember, it’s completely safe to fast prior to your blood test if recommended by your GP or pharmacist! Follow the tips above, and if you are ever concerned, get in touch with us or your test clinic to confirm the best approach.
Book your cholesterol blood test with Life Pharmacy.
Stay on top of your heart health and take control of your cholesterol levels with a convenient and comprehensive cholesterol blood test at Life Pharmacy. We have a team of qualified, professional pharmacists ready to offer reliable testing and personalised advice based on your results.
Schedule a quick and easy appointment with our team today.
