What You Need to Know

No. Fasting requirements vary depending on the test. Some tests require fasting, while many do not. Do not fast unnecessarily for long periods; share your test list with our laboratory before your visit to learn about the preparation requirements.

A fasting period of 8–12 hours is usually required; the exact duration depends on the test. During this time, you should not eat or drink anything other than water. Fasting for longer than instructed does not make the results more accurate.

Unless instructed otherwise, you may drink plain water. Before tests that require fasting, do not drink tea, coffee, fruit juice or other beverages, even if they are unsweetened. If you are on a fluid restriction, follow your doctor's advice.

Before your sample is collected, tell the staff what you consumed and when. Depending on the test, the sample may be collected or collection may be rescheduled. Providing accurate information about your fasting status helps ensure that your results are interpreted correctly.

Do not stop taking your medicines or change their doses on your own. For some tests, the timing of your medication matters. Provide the names and doses of your medicines and the time you last took them; clarify the timing of sample collection and medication with your doctor or our laboratory in advance.

Yes. Vitamins, herbal products and supplements can affect some results. Biotin (vitamin B7), particularly found in hair and nail products, can cause falsely high or low results in some tests. Tell us which products you take and their doses; whether they need to be paused depends on the test.

Yes. Preparation should be individually planned for people receiving diabetes treatment, pregnant women, children and people who find fasting difficult to tolerate. In particular, if you use insulin or medicines that lower blood sugar, discuss fasting and medication timing with your doctor in advance. If you develop sweating, trembling or marked weakness while fasting, inform the healthcare staff.

Yes. Avoid strenuous exercise before your test; ask for test-specific instructions regarding alcohol. Do not smoke or chew gum during the fasting period. If you arrive at the laboratory after walking briskly or climbing stairs, rest before having your blood taken.

Yes. If possible, sit and rest for about 15 minutes before your sample is collected. Physical activity, stress and body position can affect some measurements. Do not repeatedly clench and unclench your fist while your blood is being taken; follow the staff's instructions.

For some tests, yes. Hormone levels can vary according to the time of day or the menstrual cycle. For tests such as cortisol, the sample collection time is taken into account; for some reproductive hormones, the day of the menstrual cycle matters. The same time or day of the menstrual cycle does not apply to every hormone test.

Bring your identification document, your doctor's test request if you have one, any relevant previous results and a list of the medicines you take. Special tests, such as prenatal screening, may require an ultrasound report or additional information. You can enquire about appointments and required documents before your visit.

Tell the staff if you have previously fainted during a blood draw, have veins that are difficult to access, have a bleeding problem or take blood thinners. Also mention any allergy to latex, antiseptics or adhesive dressings. If you have an intravenous infusion in one arm, a dialysis fistula, lymphoedema or a history of breast or armpit surgery, tell the staff so they can choose an appropriate site.

Mention this before the procedure begins. If necessary, your blood can be taken while you are lying down. If you experience nausea, sweating, dizziness or dimming of vision during the procedure, tell the staff immediately. Do not stand up until you feel well.

First, find out which test will be performed; not all urine tests require the same collection method. For a urine culture, you generally need to clean the area, pass the first part of the urine into the toilet and collect a midstream sample in a sterile container. Do not touch the inside of the container. For a PCR test for sexually transmitted infections, a first-catch morning urine sample may be requested; follow the laboratory's instructions.

Use the sample container recommended by the laboratory; do not use household jars or bottles. Prevent toilet water or other substances from contaminating the sample. Record the collection time and deliver the sample within the specified period. Since storage temperature and delivery time vary by test, ask for instructions before collecting the sample.

Before starting, obtain the appropriate container and test-specific instructions from the laboratory. Pass your first morning urine into the toilet and record the time. Collect all urine passed after that in the collection container, including the final urine passed at the same time the next day. If any urine is missed or spilled, inform the laboratory; you may need to repeat the collection. If the container contains a preservative, do not pour it out, and follow the storage instructions.

Antibiotic use can affect culture results. Whenever possible, the sample is collected before treatment begins; however, necessary treatment should not be delayed for the test. If you have started taking an antibiotic, provide its name and the time of your last dose. Do not stop taking your medicine on your own.

Glucose tolerance tests, drug level measurements, breath tests and special urine analyses may require advance preparation or specific timing. Contact us before your visit to find out about appointments, fasting, medication use and how long the procedure takes.

Keeping your arm straight, apply continuous pressure to the needle insertion site with clean gauze for 3–5 minutes, until the bleeding stops. If you take blood thinners, you may need to apply pressure for longer. Do not rub the area or carry heavy loads with that arm immediately afterwards. If the bleeding does not stop, or if you develop significant swelling, severe pain or numbness, seek advice from a healthcare professional.

No. A result outside the reference range does not, on its own, establish a diagnosis; a result within the range does not rule out every disease either. Your doctor should assess your results alongside your age, symptoms, medications and other findings. Sharing your previous results helps with this assessment.