Fasting is often necessary for liver function panel testing to ensure accurate results by minimizing the influence of food and beverages on certain blood markers. When you eat, your body absorbs and processes nutrients, which can temporarily change levels of substances in your blood, particularly fats, sugars, and liver enzymes. For example, eating a meal shortly before testing can raise glucose or fat levels, which may interfere with accurate measurements of liver enzymes and proteins like bilirubin, ALT, and AST. This makes it harder to assess your liver’s true health status, as some of these markers can be artificially elevated or lowered by recent food intake.
Typically, patients are asked to fast for 8–12 hours before a liver function test. During this time, only water is allowed, as it doesn’t impact blood composition like other beverages or foods. Fasting is particularly important for people who may have liver conditions, metabolic issues, or elevated cholesterol levels, as it helps provide a clearer, unbiased picture of liver function. Following fasting guidelines also allows healthcare providers to assess whether dietary habits impact liver health and ensures more accurate treatment or recommendations.
My Care Labs provides reliable, accurate liver function panel testing and clearly explains the fasting guidelines to help patients prepare. My Care Labs understands that some patients, especially those affected by COVID-19, may need precise monitoring of their liver health due to the virus’s potential impact on liver function. For such individuals, strict adherence to fasting guidelines can help track any long-term effects of COVID-19 on the liver.
In addition to liver function tests, My Care Labs offers COVID-19, flu, and RSV testing to meet comprehensive health needs. Through accurate and convenient testing solutions, My Care Labs empowers patients to take charge of their health, whether managing existing conditions or monitoring recovery from COVID-19.
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