Guidelines for blood screenings
- Fasting is always preferable for any blood sugar or cholesterol testing.
- A 12 (twelve) hour fast for venipuncture cholesterol and blood sugar
is required.
- Fasting means no food or drink. Avoid taking diabetes medication (other
necessary medications may be taken, i.e. heart/blood pressure medication),
although the participant may drink water or decaf coffee without cream
or sugar.
- Participants who are diabetic should not take insulin or pills for diabetes
until after the test. They can bring these and other medications with them
and administer them after the test.
- The Coronary Risk Profile is like a lipid profile and includes total
cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and blood sugar screenings.
- Participants who don’t fast prior to the blood draw can still
have the test done but should be aware that the results are not nearly
as accurate.
- The results of the profile are mailed to the patient’s home usually
within 10 to 14 days or hand delivered back to the participant's employer
if requested.
- The Coronary Risk Profile comes with a learning guide that discusses
each risk factor. Participants are encouraged to read this in order
to understand their test results.
- Results of these tests are not sent to a participant’s physician
unless the participant or doctor requests that he or she receives
a copy.
- Any participant with abnormal results is strongly encouraged to discuss
these findings with his or her physician for follow-up treatment.
- After blood is drawn, if the participant experiences any tenderness or
swelling at the site, he or she may apply ice, elevate the arm and take
Tylenol for discomfort if he or she is not allergic to Tylenol.
- A room with good lighting, cool temperatures, and some measure of privacy
helps the participants.
- Letting us know the approximate number of participants greatly aids our
staffing.
- If several of your employees report difficulty with blood draws in the
past, please ask us to send a phlebotomist.
