For the study, researchers compared cholesterol testing results of 300,000 people from Denmark, Canada, and the U.S. In both the U.S. and Canada, fasting for eight hours before a test is required. In Denmark, however, it is not.
Patients who are scheduled for a lipid profile test should fast (except for water) for 12-14 hours before the blood sample is drawn. If the patient's cholesterol is to be fractionated, he or she also should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test. http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Ato...
Ask the Diabetes Educator Archive 10/18/04 Q: When fasting for a fasting glucose test that is done first thing in the morning, how long should one fast for? Is it 8 hours or 12 to 14 hours? Does it matter? A: The textbook time to fast before a glucose test is 8 hours.However, when you are also testing for lipid levels, it has been my experience that 14 hours are better to clear the triglycerides.: The textbook time to fast before a glucose test is 8 hours. However, when you are also testing for lipid levels, it has been my experience that 14 hours are better to clear the triglycerides.