Pre-Test Patient Information

The Doctor

Laboratory testing is a science professionally conducted with rigorous statistical analysis and quality controls. But medical diagnosis has been called an art, a clinical reasoning process, not always clear cut, which relies on information from multiple sources. Medical testing is an important component in the diagnostic tool kit, and very often an invaluable tool, but it is most reliable when used in conjunction with other meaningful data collected in the diagnostic process. Modern medicine relies on the combined skills of Clinicians and diagnostic laboratories to manage a patient’s illness. At the heart of laboratory is the care of the patient. The laboratory must produce accurate and reliable results quickly in response to their clinician’s request.

The Patient

A patient who does not follow preparation instructions or provides insufficient information to the physician undermines the entire quality assurance effort for a specific test. You can put great trust in the data generated by today's exacting medical tests. A caveat to remember is that a diagnosis and treatment plan for a serious disease should never be based on a single medical test. Test findings are just one of the pieces of the diagnostic puzzle. Please follow test preparation instructions carefully and tell the person collecting your sample about any exceptions you made.

Pre-test Requisites

  • Each test has specific requirements for specimen collection. Be sure to review the specimen requirements for the requested test.
  • Please wear loose fitting clothes so as enable the technical staff to collect blood sample.
  • There is an alcohol restriction for 24 hours prior to your appointment
  • It would be preferable if you could collect urine and stool samples from home & bring them along with you. Sterile containers are available from reception counter or can be had from your local chemist shops.
  • If you have any previous medical reports /health records you may carry it with you for a comparative study.
  • For all drug assays except lithium, blood should be collected after 4 hours of intake of medicine or as per clinician’s instructions.
  • Avoid PSA testing within 7 days after rectal examination, UTI, per rectal USG as this may give falsely elevated readings.
  • Avoid having thyroid medication prior to blood collection unless instructed by the clinician.
  • For Lithium, collect blood after 12 hrs after intake of medicine.
  • PCT – Patients has to come 3 hrs after the intercourse.
  • Collect the sample in the proper container.
  • TATs may change due to non-availability of reagent kits. In such instance we will try to process sample as early as possible and will keep you informed.
  • For specialized test please provide the details of the history of the patient.

Fasting Guidelines

  • Do not eat any food or drink tea, coffee, juices etc. for 10 to 12 hrs prior to the reporting time.
  • Only water at any time & any auantity is allowed throughout thr fasting peroid
  • Special Instruction for certain investigations
  • Glucose (Fasting or 2 hrs. post meal)
  • Glucose PP samples (After 2hrs of breakfast /lunch/70g of glucose)
  • Urea (Fasting preferred)
  • Creatinine (Fasting preferred)
  • Uric acid (Fasting preferred)
  • Liver profile (Minimum 8 hours fasting)
  • HDL Cholesterol (12 hour fasting and no alcohol for 48 hours)
  • LDL Cholesterol (12 hour fasting and no alcohol for 48 hours)
  • Triglycerides (12 hour fasting and no alcohol for 48 hours)
  • Cholesterol (12 hour fasting and no alcohol for 48 hours)
  • ESR (12 hours fasting)
  • Renal profile (12 hours fasting)
  • Lipid profile (12 hours fasting)
  • Diabetes profile (12 hours fasting)
  • Protein (12 hours fasting)
  • Albumin (12 hours fasting)

Urine Collection for Routine Examination

Sample for routine urine test can be taken at anytime of the day in a sterilized container (provided by the lab). A clean catch midstream sample is recommended. Volume taken-at least 20ml "If specific gravity" is specifically requested then take 400ml.

Urine Collection for Urine Culture

Urine sample must be taken early in the morning in a sterilized container and clean catch midstream sample is recommended. In this test, the patient preferably should not have started on antibiotic course or should have stopped the antibiotic 24 hrs prior to the test. A sterilized culture pot is provided to the patient by the lab. Volume required: 5-10ml.

24 Hours Urine Collection

Discard the first urine sample passed in the morning. Collect all the urine voided subsequently for 24 hrs (day & night) in the container provided by the lab. The next morning void completely, and add this sample to the collection container. This completes your 24 hour urine collection.

Sputum Collection

A Deep Cough Sample Is Required. For AFB stain sputum samples on 2/3 consecutive days are recommended. For sputum culture (bacteriological) sputum can be collected at any time of the day and is taken in a sterile container. Patient should have preferably stopped the antibiotic 24 hrs prior to specimen collection.

Semen Collection

At least 3 days of abstinence is required. Collect Semen sample in a sterile container, provided by the lab. Transport the sample to the lab within 1/2 hrs.

PAP Smear/FNAC/Histopathology

Take Prior consultation with the Doctor.