Do you need to prepare yourself for a blood count or basic blood test? Is it enough to come on an empty stomach for the results to reflect our state of he alth? It turns out that this is not enough. There are a few other recommendations.

Contents:

  1. Morphology: how to prepare for it?
    • Don't push yourself
    • Sit a little
    • Don't smoke
    • Don't be nervous
    • Don't drink alcohol
    • Fasting

Do you need to prepare for morphology ? Most of us will answer that fasting is enough.

It turns out, however, that this is not all. The result of morphology may be affected by too deep insertion of the needle into the vein, manipulation of the needle, holding the tourniquet (rubber placed on the arm) for too long, and even the order of the samples taken. It is worth adding that as many as 3/4 of the erroneous test results are related to improper preparation for blood collection, the conditions in which the material for testing is stored and transported. It is also worth knowing that the material collected for testing must be sent to the laboratory in the right time so that the result reflects the actual state of he alth.

Morphology: how to prepare for it?

  • You must be fasting, which means that you should refrain from eating for about 12 hours in order to ensure that the results obtained in the study correspond to the actual state. The dinner eaten the previous day should be easily digestible. Before the test, you can only drink a glass of water or unsweetened tea.
  • It is best to come to the laboratory between 7 am and 9.30 am (at 10 am at the latest), because some blood parameters change throughout the day. Taking blood at the indicated time gives the possibility of obtaining the highest repeatability (and therefore truthfulness) of the results.
  • You should refrain from drinking alcohol 2-3 days before the test and limit other stimulants, including coffee and cigarettes.
  • On the day of the examination, abstain from taking your morning medications or take them if your doctor so decides. Then, however, the laboratory worker must be informed about the medications taken.
  • Before taking blood, the patient should rest for half an hour, preferably sitting.

Note! In the case of analyzes that are not influenced by the time of day, time from eating a meal, the cycle phasemonthly - blood for testing can be taken at any time of the day.

Don't push yourself

Exercise immediately before blood sampling may have an impact on the test result, as it disrupts carbohydrate metabolism. The blood thickens. After exercise, due to the increased consumption of energy substances, the level of glucose and triglycerides drops.

In addition, during exercise, the muscles release enzymes that penetrate the serum and affect the level of: CPK (creatine kinase, i.e. a protein released into the blood from muscles, the high level of which indicates polymyositis, including heart inflammation) , is also a marker of heart ischemia), AST (alanine aminotransferase - exceeding the norm may indicate liver or circulatory system diseases), LDH (lactate dehydrogenesis - an enzyme whose high activity may suggest viral hepatitis, cancer, muscle damage, anemia, pneumonia) and kidney disease and acute pancreatitis).

The systemic reaction to exercise is also an increase in the number of neutrocytes and a change in the concentration of hormones.

Sit a little

The position of the body significantly influences the obtained results of the test. After several dozen minutes of standing, the fluids are displaced, and the blood is compressed by about 10%. This may increase the levels of protein, cholesterol, calcium, magnesium, hematocrit, red and white blood cells. The reason for the increase in the concentration of these parameters is the movement of water from the vascular bed into the interstitial space. The value of the above-mentioned parameters caused by a change in body position depends on the capacity of the circulatory system. They can be overstated by as much as 10-15%.

Don't smoke

Cigarette smoke negatively affects the image of blood oxygen saturation. This parameter is not determined in the morphology performed as a screening test. However, the substances in the smoke can affect hemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts.

Don't be nervous

The stress of queuing up can make your blood glucose level rise and result in a false-positive. It will also raise the level of adrenaline, which will change the image of the carbohydrate economy.

Don't drink alcohol

Drinking alcohol for 38 hours stimulates an increase in GGTP (gamma-glutamyltransferase) activity, which may give a false result, which means that the liver is not working properly. Even one beer drunk in the evening can dramatically change the results of the so-called liver tests, i.e. ALT and AST transaminases. Alcohol also has a negative effect on the lipid profile, i.e. the determination of total and cholesterol levelsits LDL and HDL fractions.

Fasting

Eating a meal is associated with an increase in blood glucose, which is of particular importance in assessing the risk of developing diabetes or glucose intolerance. The concentration of triglycerides also increases after a meal. You can also have a higher OB. Even the number of white blood cells changes. Coffee drunk before the test may increase cortisol levels, and this may result in a change in glucose levels.

Important

The morphology of peripheral blood belongs to the basic research. From a blood sample taken from a vein, not only the concentration of hemoglobin or the number of red and white cells is determined - you can determine some of their properties, the size of blood cells or the degree of hemoglobin saturation (oxygen carrier), but also detailed proportions between them. This will allow us to answer the question of whether the patient is anemic, how he reacts to treatment of infections, or whether he is eating properly.

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