ASTROMEDICS Health Library · Updated 28 October 2026
General patient education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. A qualified clinician should assess your symptoms and advise you.
Clarify the purpose and preparation
Knowing why a test is being ordered makes preparation and follow-up easier. Not every blood test requires fasting, and different scans or samples may have different instructions.
Confirm the test’s purpose, preparation, risks and what results may mean with the ordering team.
Share medicines, allergies, relevant health history and possible pregnancy before a test.
Know how results will be reviewed
Ask when/how results will arrive, who will explain them and what follow-up may be needed.
A test is one part of diagnosis; clinicians interpret it with symptoms and other information.
Preparing for the next step
Confirm the exact test name and ask whether eating, drinking or medicines need special instructions. Bring the request and previous relevant reports. Before leaving, find out how results will be shared and what to do if you do not hear back; do not assume silence means everything is normal.
Questions for your consultation
- Do I need to fast or follow other preparation instructions?
- Who will explain my results and arrange any follow-up?