Patient guide

Preparing for your test

A little preparation helps us give you accurate results the first time. If your doctor or our staff gave you different instructions, follow those.

Before you visit

A quick checklist

These apply to most visits, whatever test you are having.

Bring your prescription and any previous reports.
Bring a list of the medicines you take, and tell us if you take blood thinners.
Wear a short- or loose-sleeved top if you are giving a blood sample.
Drink water as usual unless you have been told not to. It makes blood collection easier.
Not sure whether you need to fast? Call the hotline before you come.

Test preparation

How to prepare for common tests

Fasting blood tests

Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR

1 Have nothing to eat or drink except plain water for 8–12 hours. An overnight fast is easiest.
2 Ask your doctor whether to take your morning medicines, especially diabetes medicines.
3 Avoid heavy or fatty meals the night before a lipid profile.

Diabetes tests

After-meal blood sugar

2 hours after breakfast, post-prandial blood sugar (PPBS)

1 Eat your usual meal and note the time you start eating.
2 Your sample is taken 2 hours later. Have only water in between.
3 Tell our staff when you started your meal.

Glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

OGTT with 2 or 3 samples, 75 g glucose tests

1 Come in fasting for 8–12 hours.
2 We take a fasting sample, then you drink a 75 g glucose solution.
3 Further samples are taken at 1 and/or 2 hours. Stay seated at the centre and do not eat or smoke.
4 Allow 2–3 hours for your visit.

OGTT prices

Routine urine test

Urinogram, urine sugar, urine protein

1 Use a clean, sterile container. The first urine of the morning is best.
2 Wash your hands and genital area, pass the first part into the toilet, then collect the middle part (midstream).
3 Close the lid tightly and bring the sample within 1 hour.

Urine & stool tests

Cultures (C/S)

Urine, blood, stool, sputum, swab and fluid culture & sensitivity

1 Give the sample before starting antibiotics if possible.
2 If you are already taking antibiotics, tell our staff which ones and since when.
3 For urine culture, collect a midstream sample in a sterile container.

Microbiology tests

24-hour urine collection

24-hour urine protein, creatinine clearance, urine calcium, cortisol, copper

1 Ask us for the right container first. Some tests need a preservative.
2 Start in the morning: pass and discard the first urine and note the time.
3 Collect all urine for the next 24 hours, including the first urine of the following morning.
4 Keep the container cool and bring it in promptly.

24-hour tests

Stool sample

Stool R/M/E, occult blood, H. pylori antigen, stool culture

1 Collect a fresh sample in a clean, dry container.
2 Do not let it mix with urine or water.
3 Bring the sample within 1–2 hours.

Semen analysis

Semen analysis, semen fructose

1 Avoid ejaculation for 2–7 days before the test.
2 Collect the whole sample by masturbation into a sterile container. Do not use condoms or lubricants.
3 Deliver within 1 hour, keeping the sample close to body temperature.

Semen tests

Hormone tests

Cortisol, thyroid, FSH, LH, estradiol, prolactin

1 Cortisol is usually taken in the morning, or at the time your doctor specifies.
2 Some female hormone tests are timed to a particular day of your cycle. Follow your doctor’s advice.
3 If you take thyroid medicine, ask your doctor whether to give the sample before your daily dose.

Hormone tests

Pap's smear

Pap's smear (slide or LBC), HPV DNA

1 Book the test for a day when you are not menstruating.
2 For 48 hours before, avoid intercourse, douching and vaginal medicines or creams.

Pap's smear prices

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without asking your doctor.

Specimen guide

What the specimen column means

Our test list shows the specimen each test needs. These are the most common.

EDTA tube

Purple / lavender cap

Whole blood for blood counts, HbA1c, blood group and most PCR tests.

Serum

Red or yellow cap

Clotted blood for most biochemistry, hormone, vitamin and antibody tests.

Gray tube

Gray cap (fluoride)

Preserves glucose, used for blood sugar and OGTT samples.

PT tube

Light blue cap (citrate)

For clotting tests such as PT, APTT, D-Dimer and clotting factors.

Lithium heparin

Green cap

For electrolytes and some special tests such as TB-IGRA (Quantiferon).

Tissue block (FFPE)

Paraffin block

Tissue from a biopsy or operation, used for IHC and cancer gene tests. Bring the block and its histopathology report.

Report times

When will my report be ready?

Each test in our list shows its report time. Daily means the test is processed every day. Some specialised tests run on set days, such as “Sun & Wed”. Molecular and genetic tests take longest. Our front desk will confirm your delivery time when you give your sample.

Processed daily: 261
Within 1–3 days: 99
Within 4–7 days: 51
More than a week: 29

Out of 454 tests in our current list.

Still have questions?

Call our hotline and our team will tell you exactly how to prepare for your test.

Book appointment 02 22 331 5524