Useful instructions before your tests
Everything you need to know about preparing for sample collection before each test:
- An 8-10 hour fast and 24-hour alcohol abstinence are required. Blood samples should ideally be collected in the morning. Blood test results are not affected by a normal breakfast, except for tests related to metabolism, such as glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and general blood lipids.
- Water intake is allowed before the tests.
- Please inform the laboratory about any medication you are taking.
- Blood draws can be done at any time of day and fasting is not required. All tests are evaluated based on the day of the woman's cycle. For optimal assessment of most tests (Prolactin, FSH, LH, Androgens), it is preferable to perform them between the 2nd and 5th day of the cycle, Estradiol on the 14th day, and Progesterone on the 21st day.
- For Prolactin testing, it is better if the blood draw is at least 2 hours after waking and to avoid stress. Various medications (antibiotics, anxiolytics, antacids, contraceptives, etc.) can affect the results.
- For β-hCG (pregnancy test), the best day for testing is after the 10th day of a missed period. In the case of in vitro fertilization, the optimal day for testing is the 14th day after embryo transfer.
Blood draws can be done at any time of the day. For individuals taking daily medication for thyroid disorders, it is recommended to have the blood draw in the morning before taking the medication.
Blood draws are recommended to be done at 8 a.m.
Blood draws are recommended to be done in the morning before taking the medication.
Blood draws can be done at any time of the day and fasting is not required.
It is recommended not to perform the blood draw late in the afternoon.
Blood draws are recommended to be done without tourniquet use.
The test should be conducted in the morning after a 12-hour fast. For 3 days prior to the test, follow a normal diet while avoiding alcohol and intense physical activity. During this period, you may need to stop medications such as antihypertensives, steroids, hormones, contraceptives, aspirin, anti-inflammatories, hypoglycemics, psychiatric medications, etc., only after consulting with your doctor.
- Samples should be collected after thorough cleaning with soap (not antiseptic) and water, using mid-stream morning urine in a special sterile container, which can be obtained from our laboratory or pharmacies. The samples should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible or kept in a cool place until delivery.
- Please inform the laboratory about any medication you are taking.
- At the start of the 24-hour collection period (e.g., 7:00 a.m.), the patient should urinate to empty the bladder, and this urine should be discarded. Subsequently, all urine produced during the next 24 hours, including the final urine at 7:00 a.m. of the following day, should be collected in a special container (with or without preservative) and kept refrigerated during the collection period.
- For the measurement of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), avoid coffee, tea, bananas, avocado, citrus fruits, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, and nuts for 48 hours before and during the collection. Medications should only be discontinued after consulting a doctor.
- For 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA) testing, avoid coffee, tea, bananas, avocado, tomatoes, eggplant, pineapple, prunes, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, and nuts for 48 hours before and during the collection. Medications should only be discontinued after consulting a doctor.
- For catecholamines and metanephrines testing, avoid coffee, tea, bananas, avocado, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, nuts, alcoholic beverages, and smoking for 48 hours before and during the collection. Medications should only be discontinued after consulting a doctor.
For serotonin testing, avoid bananas, avocado, tomatoes, eggplant, pineapple, prunes, kiwi, and nuts for 48 hours before and during the collection of the sample. Medications should only be discontinued after consulting a doctor.
The patient should collect the sample directly into the appropriate container provided by the laboratory or transfer it from a clean container where it was previously collected. A sample taken from the toilet bowl is unsuitable. The sample should be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours without refrigeration.
The patient should collect the sample directly into the appropriate container provided by the laboratory by coughing and without inhaling nasopharyngeal secretions. The sample should be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours without refrigeration.
For the collection of anal swabs, ova detection, oxiure, vaginal fluid, cervical smears, urethral swabs, and other similar samples, it is recommended to consult with the laboratory for further instructions.