Check-Up, Internisten, Kardiologie Frankfurt am Main – Tel. 069-273 166 5-0

E-Mail senden

You are here: / Laboratory blood tests

Laboratory blood tests

Laboratory blood test come to the doctor on an empty stomach. Many patients are uncertain what to do and what not to do before they present for blood tests. We briefly explain what you should pay attention to:

Blood samples – do you really have to come on an empty stomach?

Empty stomach – what does that mean for doctors?

According to the latest medical research, blood tests on empty stomach are only required if diabetes is suspected or if the patient has diabetes.
Empty stomach to the doctor, in case of diabetes, means that you may drink a glass of water before providing a blood sample.
Fasting means that you must not have eaten for at least 8, preferably 12 hours before you go provide a blood sample.
Fasting also means: do not drink any juices, milk or sugared drinks

Medication: Please talk to us if you are taking medication regularly
Smoking: We naturally recommend all patients not to smoke at all. However, if you are in the process of giving up smoking, we ask you not to smoke for at least 8 to 10 hours before providing a blood sample.

Why provide a fasting blood sample at all?

There are strong reasons for providing a blood sample on an empty stomach. As soon as you have eaten something, such as an apple, your body begins to use the food. The number one goal is to circulate energy in the body. This happens through the blood. If you were to eat something before providing blood, this would result in incorrect blood values. If we stick to the example of the apple, we would erroneously assume that your blood sugar levels are far too high, or even pathologically high. Blood sugar levels naturally rise after you have eaten fruit or sweetened drinks, but this is also the case with many other foods.

Since we – like you – want to know what your blood sugar values and all other blood values that provide information about your health really are, please come to the blood test on an empty stomach.

What blood values are we testing for?

Minor blood screen:

  • Platelets: Here the number of blood platelets is measured
  • Leukocytes: This value describes the number of white blood cells
  • Erythrocytes: This value represents the number of red blood cells
  • Haematocrit: Proportion of solid blood components in the blood
  • Haemoglobin: This is the amount of red blood pigment
  • MCV: a single red blood cell and its average volume
  • MCHC: average haemoglobin amount of a red blood cell
  • MCH: average haemoglobin content of red blood cells

Major blood screen:

  • Granulocytes
  • Lymphocytes
  • Monocytes

We also determine the following values among others:

  • Cholesterol
  • Iron
  • Electrolytes
  • Electrophoresis
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Ferritin
  • Triglycerides
Make an appointment