Guidelines of patient preparation for venous blood collection for haemotological tests (complete blood count, ESR etc.)
- On the day before taking blood for complete blood count, physical exercises, stress, physiotherapy procedures, administration of pharmaceuticals (with the exclusion of cases of pharmacological therapy prescribed by a physician; in this case the decision to suspend medication shall be made by the consulting physician), administration of oral contraceptives, drinking alcoholic beverages and eating fatty food shall be excluded. Immediately before the test, smoking is forbidden.
- Standard blood sampling is performed in the morning, on an empty stomach (no less than 8 to 12 hours after the previous intake of food), in a procedure room, in a sitting or lying position, while in a physiologically calm state, from an ulnar vein following all the aseptic and antiseptic regulations. Prior to blood sampling, the patient shall rest for 15 minutes.
- Blood sample shall be taken before the commencement of administration of pharmaceuticals (e.g., antibacterial or chemotherapeutical drugs) or no sooner than 10 to 14 days after discontinuation. If the study needs to be performed during the course of a pharmaceutical therapy, the referral shall state the name of the pharmaceutical and the time of its latest administration.
- Blood samples shall not be taken at the day when an X-ray imaging, rectal examination, ultrasonography, massage or other procedures are performed.
- Blood shall be sampled from veins.