I should have had only water from 9 om last night, ready for a set of blood tests at 10am this morning, but due to an eventful evening I forgot until 11pm! Will it make much difference or should I cancel the test?
I'm pleased you asked that. I have one due next week but could not remember the 'fasting criteria' I take it that it is water only for 12 hours prior to the test.
I don't know why they say this in UK as in France you just have to turn up having fasted (no breakfast). Could it be that Brits sometimes have supper whereas the French don't?
You are also allowed tea or coffee provided it's without milk or sugar. I coerced the practice nurse into admitting this; the reason for the water only rule was that it was much less effort to say!
There is a time window that is necessary to keep to. Too much or too little fasting spoils the results. Maybe if you phoned they could put the test back a couple of hours, I'd suspect they are taking blood all day anyway.
I admitted having a herbal tea before a cholesterol test and the nurse said it could spoil the results so I'd have to rebook the blood test and do the fast again.Hwever i guess it depends what they are looking for,routine tests don't normally ask for fasting in my experience.