“How do I prepare for a fasting blood test?”
I will have a blood test. How do I prepare for a fasting blood test?
3 Answers
Erica W. Richards
Director of Nursing, Long Term Care, Emergency Trauma, Cardiac Care, Psychiatry, Oncology, Research, Supervision, Management
North Carolina
How you prepare for a fasting glucose test is usually nothing by mouth after midnight.
Fasting means nothing to eat or drink after midnight for labs in the morning.
Rachel Goelz
Family Nurse Practitioner,
It depends on the test being drawn, but usually, you want to not eat or drink anything for 6-8 hours prior to the blood draw. This is common for a fasting blood sugar or lipid panel. Let them know when you arrive how long you have not eaten or drank anything.
