Iron Panel preparation

[owl87]

Is there any preparation needed for an Iron Panel? I am planning to have blood drawn first thing and fasting - is this the right thing to do? I was planning to have the blood drawn tomorrow or saturday but in typical fashion I think my period is coming - if it does should I wait? Thank you!

[humanbean]

I am planning to have blood drawn first thing and fasting - is this the right thing to do?

Yes. If you currently take iron supplements of any kind then giving them up for a few days or a week gives more accurate results.

I was planning to have the blood drawn tomorrow or saturday but in typical fashion I think my period is coming - if it does should I wait?

I would say yes, you should wait, but not because of your period.

Once you have the blood sample taken (either with a needle or fingerprick) you need to get that sample to the Lab as soon as possible. You don't want it to arrive when the lab is closed for the weekend. You don't want it to sit in a sorting office for the weekend either. You should aim to get the sample to arrive at the lab on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The best option (in my opinion) is to take the package to the post office before last collection and pay for "Guaranteed Next Day Delivery by 1pm".

There is also a deliver by 9am option but the lab might not be open for that one, so ignore it.

[owl87 in reply to humanbean]

Ah thank you! I have been eating 200g liver a week so do you know if this is also likely to impact the blood test if I have it in the few days before? And that's useful to know about the period too! I'll aim to get the test done first thing monday!

[humanbean in reply to owl87]

I would say you should give the liver a miss for, say, three days. That should be plenty.

[owl87 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you again!