Preparing for the examination: is it possible to drink alcohol before donating blood

blood tests and alcohol consumption

Drunkards are tempted to drink alcohol before donating blood, what food is allowed before visiting the hospital?

In order for the examination results not to be distorted and correspond to reality, it is necessary to follow a set of rules that the doctor usually brings to the patient. One of the most important requirements on the eve of blood tests is the lack of ethanol in it.

How alcohol can affect

Does alcohol affect blood tests and how do we properly prepare for the examination? A blood test is one of the most important, it allows you to assess the general condition of the body and make an accurate diagnosis, so proper preparation for taking blood samples and following all the recommendations of the attending physician isa very important step. affects the outcome and should be taken seriously. The speed of recovery of the patient, the methods of treatment prescribed by the doctor depends directly on the results of the study. Therefore, to the questions of whether it is possible to donate blood after alcohol or whether it is possible to drink beer before donating blood, there should be a vague answer - no. Alcohol should not be taken before donating blood.

Usually the specialist warns the patient that the blood is taken on an empty stomach in the morning, not even coffee and tea should be consumed. However, some patients do not always follow the recommendations and may drink beer or take other alcohol before having tests.

Can I drink beer before donating blood

How is ethyl alcohol introduced into the bloodstream? Causes chemical transformations and has various effects on the body:

  • has a decrease in glucose levels - an effect on blood sugar;
  • increases uric acid content;
  • increases plasma lactate content;
  • a number of other chemicals in the blood and urine also vary.

Drinking alcohol can greatly distort the test results, and at best, you will need to spend time retaking the test. Alcohol also affects urine analysis.

How to prepare for the exam

What foods and drinks should not be consumed before donating blood?

drink whiskey before testing

Experts strongly recommend the following points in the preparation of the study. The person who will pass the test must know them:

  • refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages 48, and ideally 72 hours before blood donation is made;
  • if a person drank alcohol before the test (even accidentally), it is recommended to refuse the visit to the hospital and postpone it for a later date;
  • there are studies in which the use of alcohol is completely prohibited (these include tests for hepatitis, HIV, diabetes mellitus, tests for the content of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and some hormones);
  • the day before you visit the clinic, the use of sugar (and all foods that contain sugar), as well as fried, spicy and fatty foods is prohibited - this can negatively affect the test;
  • you should try to avoid stressful situations - you know about their negative impact on the test result;
  • refrain from smoking 1-2 hours before blood donation.

Analysis for sugar and the effect of alcohol on its results

The use of beverages and preparations containing ethanol when tested for sugar is strictly prohibited. This is especially true in diabetes mellitus. The point is that alcohol affects the liver. As a result, the breakdown products of ethanol enter the bloodstream and urine, which radically distort the research results. The ethyl alcohol molecule takes an active part in the body's metabolism, and as a result, glucose is formed. Hence the distortion of the result arises.

In addition to affecting the liver, ethanol can react chemically with medical instruments, resulting in the production of external chemicals that adversely affect research.

taking a blood test after drinking alcohol

Ethanol can significantly reduce the amount of glucose in the blood for a while, as it interferes with the production of glucose in the liver. Therefore, a false suspicion of diabetes mellitus may arise.

If you do not want to waste time and money retaking the exam, read the rules of preparation carefully and completely exclude alcohol from the diet - even those drinks that contain a minimal amount of ethanol, because they are not in the best way. way affect the reliability of the results.

In some cases, a person is sent for research spontaneously, without preparation. This can happen, for example, in a workplace, when management suspects that an employee has consumed alcohol in the workplace and the employee may be referred to a health facility for a test to prevent injuries at work. In such cases, a urine test for alcohol may also be done.

In some companies a medical examination of the employee is done before taking the job. Usually these are enterprises in which workers are responsible for people’s lives or use equipment that can lead to serious consequences if they do not function properly.

Such tests do not require special training - only a biomaterial sampling is performed. The blood alcohol content of 0. 2 ppm is considered harmful to the body, and 0. 5 ppm is a lethal dose.