As part of the check-up, we undergo blood and urine tests.

There are few times when we have questions about the preparation that we have to follow to avoid false results.

MICROBIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

  1. For a fasting Blood Sugar-Glucose Test, do not eat or drink anything other than water for at least 12 hours before the blood sample is taken

  2. Lipid, Cholesterol and Uric Acid profile requires abstinence from high-fat diet for at least one to two days prior to blood sample collection.

  3. Avoid drinking any alcohol on the day before the test because it can affect the biochemical tests to evaluate the liver function (transaminases, ALT, AST, GGT, ALP).

  4. Blood sampling for Thyroid Function testing can be performed at any time of the day and fasting is not necessary. Patients taking daily medication for thyroid disorders are recommended to take the medication after the blood sample is taken

  5. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) to confirm pregnancy (pregnancy test) should be done after the second day of delay in the period, to rule out false results.

  6. Cortisol, Insulin, C-peptide tests are done in the early morning hours after 12 hours of fasting and avoiding stress.

  7. For Prolactin, FSH, LH and Androgens tests: morning blood sampling between day 2 and day 5 of the menstrual cycle; for Oestradiol, on day 14 and for Progesterone, on day 21.

MICROBIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF URINE

  1. Urinalysis.Good washing of the genitals with soap and water, from the front to the back. The first morning specimen is preferred. The sample is taken in a sterile container, in “mid-stream”: you don’t collect the first or last part of urine that comes out.

  2. Urine Culture.
    Wash thoroughly your genitalia with soap and warm water, from the front to the back. Don’t use any antiseptic. Rinse well with sterilized serum or boiled water.Let the first urine go and collect the sample from the middle of urination (without interruption of urination). Women use two fingers to spread open the labia and men pull back the foreskin, then urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl before bringing the urine cup under the flow, with care not to let it touch the skin, until the cup is about half full. You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl. It is preferable that the sample is taken from the first morning urine but other samples are acceptable.

PREPARATION FOR ULTRASOUNDS

  1. Liver and Bile Duct
    Full fast (only water is allowed) for at least eight (8) hours before the examination.

  2. Lower abdomen, for women or men, for urinary bladder control (eg haematuria).
    Take four to six (4 – 6) glasses of water two (2) hours before the examination. The patient is not allowed to urinate until the examination.

  3. Lower abdomen for men (Prostate Ultrasound)
    Take four (4) glasses of water one or one and a half (1½) hours before the test. The patient is not allowed to urinate until the examination.

  4. For excessive intestinal gasDiet poor in legumes, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, with plenty of water (2-3 liters a day, avoiding soft drinks for at least three days before the examination).

  5. intraventricular blood vessels TRIPLEXDiet poor in legumes, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, with plenty of water (2-3 liters a day, avoiding soft drinks for at least three days before the examination).