What is the best thing to drink before a blood test?

Asked by: Miss Sadie Lang II  |  Last update: December 9, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (65 votes)

Ideally, start drinking more fluids the day before your blood draw, and continue to drink water before you have your blood drawn. Excessive amounts aren't necessary; most sources ecommend that an adult drink 64 ounces of water per day for good health, which is more than adequate for having your blood drawn.

What is good to drink before a blood test?

It's actually good to drink water before a blood test. It helps keep more fluid in your veins, which can make it easier to draw blood.

What not to drink before blood work?

Before Your Blood Test

— If you are having a lipid test, do not drink alcohol 48 hours before the test. You may drink normal amounts of water before your test. Do not drink any other liquids. This includes coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea or juice.

How much water should I drink before a blood test?

If permitted to drink water, aim for the recommended daily amount of 64 ounces and have a glass of water (approximately 16 ounces) before your donation.

What foods and drinks to avoid before blood test?

Do not eat and do not drink juice, tea, or coffee, especially with sugar, 10-16 hours prior to blood tests (depends on the type of test).

Fasting for a Blood Test: Dos and Dont’s

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What can ruin a blood test?

Abnormal results may be the result of several factors and do not always indicate the presence of any disease. Some of these factors are: a) you ate too soon before your blood was drawn; b) medications you are taking; c) you are normally not within standard ranges.

Can drinking too much water before blood test affect results?

Some people think they should avoid water before a blood test, not only is this untrue, it's unhealthy. Yes, you can and it is better to do so, because: It's important to keep hydrated during the fast, not only because it is healthy, it could also affect your triglyceride counts.

How can I hydrate fast for blood work?

You're allowed to drink water while fasting before a blood test. In fact, drinking plenty of water before a blood test is encouraged as it can help keep you hydrated. Coffee, juice, tea, soda, and alcohol can all interfere with lab results and should be avoided while fasting before a blood test.

What should I eat the night before a cholesterol test?

If your healthcare provider instructs fasting, you should not consume anything except for water the night before your test. Cholesterol tests, and other blood tests that require fasting, are usually scheduled in the morning for this reason.

Can I brush my teeth while fasting for blood test?

​What time should I come to the lab? 8 pm and to arrive at the laboratory early the next morning. ​May I brush my teeth? ​Yes, brushing your teeth is permitted unless otherwise indicated by your physician, assuming you do not use large amounts of toothpaste and swallow the lather.

What not to do before and after a blood test?

Try to avoid performing heavy exercises a day before the blood test. Do not smoke or drink alcohol for 24 hours before the blood test. Blood tests are not usually recommended after physiotherapy, massage therapy, or reflexotherapy. So, try to avoid any of these before undergoing a blood test.

Can I take vitamins before blood test?

Stop taking all vitamins, dietary and nutritional supplements at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. If you currently take Biotin, stop one week prior.

Does drinking water affect blood sugar test?

Drinking water before a fasting blood sugar test can actually decrease blood sugar levels, or at least prevent levels from getting too high. Water allows more glucose to be flushed out of the blood. When you're dehydrated, it means your overall blood volume is lower than normal, but your sugars will be the same.

How long does it take to hydrate your veins?

When you drink a glass of water, it takes approximately 15 minutes for your body to absorb the fluid. However, when you're dehydrated, it can take about three times as long (45 minutes) for fluids to make their way from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the rest of the body.

Can I drink coffee before giving blood for a blood test?

Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages: We know a lot of people ask, “Can I drink coffee before donating blood?” While it won't directly affect the blood being donated, caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea can block the essential iron your blood absorbs. while alcohol can lead to dehydration.

What can throw off a cholesterol test?

In other cases, you may get a result that seems off, but is actually correct and due to a factor you may not have thought of, like a medication you are on. There are several things that can affect your cholesterol test results, from alcohol consumption to pregnancy to simple human error.

What should I eat 2 days before a cholesterol test?

Go for more fiber-rich carbohydrates — whole grains, beans and lentils, vegetables, fruit — and fewer “simple” carbs such as sugar and white flour. Watch alcohol intake, especially if your triglycerides are high, because alcohol dramatically increases triglyceride levels in some people.

Does what you eat the day before affect cholesterol test?

Does what you eat before the test matter? Consuming a double cheeseburger, fries, and a milk shake right before having your blood drawn for a cholesterol test may lead to a follow-up fasting test if the triglycerides are very high. But eating normally has little effect on your lipid levels, including triglycerides.

What liquid hydrates you the fastest?

The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.

Can dehydration throw off blood test?

Hematocrit is the volume of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) in the blood. Dehydration is the most common cause of a high hematocrit value because the volume of the fluid in the blood drops and the red blood cells per volume of blood rises, thus causing inaccurate results of the test.

What should I do before blood work?

Sometimes special preparation is required to improve the accuracy of a test. This may involve:
  1. Fasting (not eating any or certain foods) for several hours or even overnight.
  2. Drinking more or less water than usual.
  3. Avoiding certain medications or vitamin and herbal supplements prior to testing.

What blood test shows too much water?

One consequence of drinking too much water, which is sometimes called water intoxication, is hyponatremia. This condition occurs when the blood's sodium level drops below 135 milliequivalents (mEg) per liter (L), per the Mayo Clinic. (The Mayo Clinic notes that normal blood sodium level is 135 to 145 mEq/L.)

What not to do after blood test?

Recommendations After Blood Collection
  1. Avoid tight or restrictive clothing on the arm.
  2. If bleeding occurs, apply firm pressure with your fingers directly over the needle site.
  3. Avoid strenuous use of the arm eg sports or heavy lifting.

What cancers are detected by blood tests?

The test can currently help monitor certain types of cancer, such as breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. Scientists are still developing the technology.