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By Mayo Clinic staffYou should fast (no food or liquids other than water) for nine to 12 hours before the test. You can drink water in the time leading up to the test, but avoid coffee, tea and other beverages.
Talk to your doctor about any other special requirements. Some medications, such as birth control pills, can increase your cholesterol levels. For this reason, if you take these or other medications, your doctor might want you to stop taking them for a few days before your test.
- Executive summary. Based on Third report of the expert panel on the detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (adult treatment panel III). National Heart, Lung, and blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3xsum.pdf and other sources. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010. Adapted by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
- High blood cholesterol. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbc/HBC_all.html. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Cholesterol. American Association for Clinical Chemistry. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/test.html. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Women and cholesterol. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/UnderstandYourRiskforHighCholesterol/Women-and-Cholesterol_UCM_305565_Article.jsp. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
- Daniels SR, et al. Lipid screening and cardiovascular health in childhood. Pediatrics. 2008;122:198.
- Miller M, et al. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. In press. Accessed April 27, 2011.
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