Patient preparation for Blood Analysis

• Patient comply with the recommended blood collection time (from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m.), except for biochemical parameters subjected to circadian rhythm that require blood collection at a specific time (ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, etc.), and in urgent situations.
• Avoid heavy physical activities 24 hours prior to blood collection.
• Have a light dinner by 7 p.m. the day before blood collection (e.g., tea and toast).
• Do not consume any food or drink for 12-14 hours before blood collection. Only water is allowed.
• Do not smoke for at least 1 hour before blood collection.
• Rest and relax for at least 10-15 minutes before blood collection is desirable.
• Inform the laboratory staff about any medications and supplementary medicinal products you are taking, as well as the time and method of administration of the last dose. Inform the laboratory staff about any special conditions (chronic diseases, pregnancy, restrictive diets, etc.).
• If a patient is on oral anticoagulant therapy, it is recommended that the interval between taking the medication and blood collection for PT (INR) be 12 hours.
• Patient identification is mandatory (surname and first name, age, gender, race, time of sampling).