Hi all,
This may seem a bit silly but I don't ever remember being told to fast before blood tests (I am on MTX so for liver function, the usual...) when I lived in London. Living in Spain now where there's a blanket rule, fast before all blood tests.
Can anyone tell me if it's usual to fast before these blood tests?
Thanks 
I am in France and they prefer to do fasting tests for everything too. Says it gets more reliable results.
Hi and thank you for your reply. Yes, I think they tend to think the same here. I get really nervous before a blood test so fasting doesn't help.
Was just about to say the same
As a nurse I can confirm there is no need to fast for any of the usual blood tests, which includes LFT, FBC, ESR, CRP and Urea & electrolytes. Even if you eat an inflammatory food, if it’s part of your normal diet, you want it to reflect your usual results, and not false results obtained from fasting in my view. However you would need to eat a lot of inflammatory foods to make an impact on your CRP. ESR is slower to reflect inflammation
Thank you for your reply. Very helpful to know this. Problem is I now see glucose on the list under General biochemical so I guess eating would affect that.
Yes if their testing glucose your best to fast, unless it states random glucose. Your normally given an early appointment if fasting
Apart from (obviously ) fasting prior to a fasting blood glucose/triglycerides test or some very specific tests for which you would be advised- I’ve never been told not to eat or drink before a blood test and I’ve been having them for 34 years.
Other countries may have different protocols but in all the years I was a Practice Nurse this has not been done here in England. Things may change but as you’re in Spain that’s clearly their requirement.
I have never been told to fast for any RA blood tests.
If a specific test needs you to fast - you can be sure you will be made well aware. Nobody wants you turning up unprepared for any tests.
Well, I turned up, after respondng to GP text to have fasting cholesterol and glucose which Rheumatology had insisted upon. I told the young HCA twice that these were fasting bloods, waited for the results to come through on My Chart but, they never came - she didn't do them! Going again later this week.
What do you mean…..she didn’t take blood or she didn’t send it to the lab?
She took blood, but only the usual high risk drug monitoring (MTX) ones that I have every 6 weeks, she didn't take the cholesterol or glucose ones. Clearly the GP had read the Rheumatologist's letter where he asked them to do fasting bloods at next routine appointment. The Surgery texted me to make the appointment whereas usually I make my own blood test appointments.
On a previous occasion this year, the GP insisted I have Rheumatoid Factor and Peptides bloods before being referred to elbow surgeon. Don't know why, as clearly I've had the disease a lifetime! The same HCA messed up the Peptides, either didn't do it or not enough blood in the bottle as that result never came through either!
Our GP Surgery was 'rescued' by an Agency back in April after our previous doctors handed back their NHS Contract.
Never been told to fast for meds monitoring bloods here either.
no fasting here on routine blood work. Not even for glucose. Canada.
Makes sense as how can a spike in blood sugar show up if the patient has fasted.
I have never fasted before RA blood tests (52 year history) but last month my Rheumatologist insisted on fasting before cholesterol and glucose blood tests.
My GP Surgery stopped fasting for these 2 tests about 5 years or so ago.
I fast because when I didn't they always rang and said I was anaemic and this required further blood tests. 🙈
🤣🤣
no idea but lucky u living in Spain 😎
Try being self employed here, not all sea and sun I can assure you!
I have never heard of this or been asked to fast.
I was told to fast before all blood tests. I take baricitinib and sulfasalazine
I have never had to fast and i was on 25mg of methotrexate, they dont even tell you to fast for diabetes tests anymore x
Here in Spain everyone fasts for all blood tests but nobody told me so I wasn't fasting for years of blood tests before I realised.
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