Fasting Blood Tests

[nailit]

Further to my post below RE: fatigue
Rang GP today and triage rang me back. Got an appointment next Monday to see a doctor. In the meantime have had to go to the surgery to collect a form to take for blood tests. The form states that its a 10 hour fast before bloods are taken. The triage that rang me said that they would just be routine bloods as a first port of call. Ive had many 'routine' bloods done before but never a fasting one so why this time?
Since when has a routine blood sample been a fasting one? Any ideas?
Thanks.

[ummmm]

I don't know. I've recently had a few rounds of blood tests and none of them fasting.

Did they say what they were testing for?

[nailit]

ummmm,
got the form here, it says vitamins b12, blood picture, glucose, diabetes, liver etc. Just seems like an all rounder.

[Mamyalynne]

Blood Glucose and Iron level tests often ask for fasting prior.

Hope you'll soon have some answers Nailit.

[Buenchico]

It probably depends upon what the tests are looking for. If you're only having a blood test (for example) to look for the presence of a virus (or of antibodies to that virus) it might not make any difference as to whether you've recently eaten or not.

However if the test is to include (for example) the possibility of Type 2 diabetes, then an FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test is far better than a simple RPG (random plasma glucose) one.

[Sqad]

As long as i can remember...."routine" blood tests have been fasting.
Certainly blood glucose, cholesterol and certain "specific tests."

[Tilly2]

Cholesterol testing?

[Tilly2]

Crossed post there, Sqad.

[nailit]

Thanks guys. Just reread the 'request' bit. It does say fasting glucose, missed that. Nothing about iron though which I would have thought to be the first thing to test for.
Just that when I spoke to triage he said that it was a routine blood test.
On the 'clinical data' bit he has written ''tired all the time, history of alcohol abuse''
Makes me sound like a worn out wino :-(
(I'm not)

[nailit]

Nowt on the form about cholesterol.

[Tilly2]

TAT is a common symptom. :-)

[Tilly2]

..I think it's actually TATT. :-)

[nailit]

TAT?
Tired all the time??

[Sqad]

it might say "Lipid profile "instead of cholesterol.

[nailit]

Cheers Sqad, yes it does say that. Thanks

[Jackdaw33]

10 years ago I was falsely diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on the basis of a non-fasting blood test.

[Tilly2]

This is old, but funny.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3159813.stm

[nailit]

That's interesting JD. I'm pretty certain that my last blood test was also non fasting and my cholesterol levels came back at 5.5. My GP tried to get me to take statins, I refused.

[Tilly2]

Sounds as if your going to get a thorough MOT, Nails. Best wishes.

[nailit]

Cheers Tills. Don't know about an MOT, think I need a new set of wheels and a complete oil change...

[Tilly2]

Can you help with this, Nails?

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/DIY/Question1601626.html