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Why does drinking water make it easier to draw blood?

Blood is about 50 percent water, so the more water you drink, the plumper your veins become and the easier it is for the phlebotomist–the technician trained to draw your blood–to locate your veins and remove blood.

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Your provider should let you know whether you need to fast prior to having your blood drawn. If you’re not sure, confirm any requirements with your provider beforehand.

Fast Smartly

Fasting for a blood test entails avoiding all food and beverages (except for water) for 8 to 12 hours prior to the test. Drink plenty of water and take your medications as usual. Note that a small number of tests have stricter requirements, such as the H. pylori breath test, which involves consuming nothing, including water, for one hour prior to the test. Tip: Come prepared with snacks. If you’re fasting, head to the lab early in the morning and bring a healthy snack to eat following the test.

Drink Water

Many people believe they should avoid water before a blood draw, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Drinking water will not only make you feel better if you’re fasting, it will also make for a smoother blood draw. Blood is about 50 percent water, so the more water you drink, the plumper your veins become and the easier it is for the phlebotomist–the technician trained to draw your blood–to locate your veins and remove blood. Urine tests are frequently ordered along with blood tests, and the fuller your bladder, the easier it will be for you to provide a sample. (Note: The urine test for chlamydia and gonorrhea requires that you not urinate for one hour prior to the test.) Tip: Get a head start on hydration. Drink extra water beginning the day before your blood draw to ensure you’re adequately hydrated the day of the draw.

Insurance Coverage

Having an unusual test done and wondering whether your insurance will cover it? We recommend calling your insurance to find out. If you have questions about how to do that, our staff can assist you. If you don’t have insurance or discover that your insurance will not cover the cost of a test, let us know so we can discuss payment options with you. Some of the labs we work with provide considerable discounts if you pay upfront at the time of service.

Make Sure You Have a Lab Order

You’ll need a lab order from your provider in order to have your blood drawn. If you’re not sure whether you have an order on-file, call our office and we’ll take a look. If you’d like your provider to order blood work, we recommend booking an appointment so you can discuss your concerns and come up with a set of tests tailored to you.

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What not to do before blood test?

Avoiding specific foods and drinks such as cooked meats, herbal tea, or alcohol. Making sure not to overeat the day before a test. Not smoking. Avoiding specific behaviors such as strenuous exercise or sexual activity.

How do I prepare for a lab test?

A laboratory (lab) test is a procedure in which a health care provider takes a sample of your blood, urine, other body fluid, or body tissue to get information about your health. Lab tests are often used to help diagnose or screen for a specific disease or condition. Screening helps diagnose diseases before symptoms occur. Other tests are used to monitor a disease or see if treatment is effective. Lab tests may also be done to provide more general information about your organs and body systems.

For any type of lab test, you should prepare for it by:

Following all the instructions given to you by your health care provider

Telling your provider or lab professional if you didn't follow these instructions exactly. It's important to be honest. Even a minor change from the instructions can have a big effect on your results. For example, some medicines raise or lower blood sugar levels. Taking them too close to a blood sugar test could affect your results. Telling your provider about any medicines, vitamins, or supplements that you are taking Taking these steps can help ensure your results will be accurate and reliable.

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