It is preferable to fast for 10-12 hours.
Drink at least two to three glasses of water before the blood draw. This will help your veins feel better and you will not feel dizzy. Tell the microbiologist about all the medicines you are taking. It is good for the microbiologist to be informed about any hereditary condition. We don’t change our eating habits before the blood draw because we are afraid of the results.

When the needle pierces the skin, you will feel a slight pinch and no pain. This should be told in advance to children or highly stressed adults. The expression that is usually heard, “you won’t understand anything at all”, creates a lack of confidence, especially in children.

This happens because it took too long for the clot to form and close the exit point of the blood. So as soon as the needle comes out, press hard with the cotton ball for 1-2 minutes and for another minute with the Band-Aid. This time is longer for people who are taking anticoagulants.It is particularly handy to place foil at the site.You can get it from the pharmacy as well as being supplied by the laboratory staff.It is advisable not to strain the arm that has been venipunctured during the day by bending it or lifting weights.

A complete blood count includes the measurement of hematocrit, hemoglobin, red cell markers, red and white blood cells, white blood cell type, platelet count and some platelet parameters.

Yes, water does not affect any test and helps to better palpate the veins.

It is necessary to observe a 10-12 hour fast from food the day before the blood draw.

Smoking a cigarette stimulates the adrenal medulla and cortex. Glucose rises in 10min and the rise lasts 1 hour. Growth hormone doubles in 30min. It is best not to smoke before the blood draw.

• Abstinence from sexual intercourse or masturbation for 3-4 days before the test
• Avoiding excessive alcohol use
• Thorough cleaning of genitals with soap and water. Wiping with sterile gauze
• Sperm is collected in a sterile cup (urinary collector), after masturbation and not intermittent intercourse
• We are careful to collect all the quantity
• During the winter months, we wrap the cup externally with cotton wool and transport it to the laboratory, taking care not to expose it to low temperatures (thermal shock of spermatozoa).
• The transfer to the laboratory must be done in half an hour at the latest.
• Due to the time-consuming procedure required for the analysis of the sample, the sample shall be brought to a specific point only by appointment.

For more information about the cytotoxic test and the nutritional screening
read more here.

1-2 days before the blood draw, drink plenty of water (8-10 glasses a day). Generally exercise your hands. Remember, it is better to be temporarily inconvenienced in order to have your blood tests done than to be trapped in fear, which can deprive you of valuable information about your health.

Tell your microbiologist that you are afraid. Take deep breaths and relax. Think of something that makes you feel good.

The answer is NO. This is why we should always discuss the results of the tests with our doctor. Many factors (not diseases) can affect your results. We name a few such as:

Failure to fast 10-12 days before blood collection.
Age
Sexual activity.
Stress
Hormonal factors
Exercise before the test
Medicines, vitamins
Alcohol intake
The quality of sleep before blood collection.

The serum from the blood draw is always kept in our laboratory for 24 hours and in some cases even longer (3 days). Contact the laboratory staff to inquire about the possibility of adding tests to the existing sample. Some tests depending on the type should be performed immediately as over time there may be a change in the result. This is why a new blood draw is always recommended.

Some drugs interfere with the metabolism of certain substances or the reaction of the analysis.It is advisable to inform the laboratory of any medication you are taking.Such drugs include:

Anxiolytics – hypnotics (Librium – Valium – Hipnosedal)
Salicylates
Contraceptives (cause an increase in iron, total cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol)
Anti-hypertensives – diuretics (Hygrotou – Lasix)
The anti-epileptic drug Epanutiu
Thyroid medications: it is advisable to avoid taking them before blood collection, always following the instructions of the doctor.
Cortisone (affects GLU, CHOL, TRIG)

Cholesterol drops during ovulation and iron drops before and during ovulation. The cause of the reduction of iron in this phase, as well as of low iron levels in women of reproductive age in general, is now considered to be hormonal and not related to blood loss.

It is better to wash at home than the night before with the usual soap we use for our personal hygiene. We will avoid sexual intercourse. The vaginal discharge should be taken by a gynaecologist or microbiologist using a vaginal dilator. The laboratory should be informed of any antibiotic treatment or use of an intravaginal ointment. Any type of culture, including vaginal secretions should be at least 1 week before taking antibiotics.