If you're planning on drinking a cup of tea before your cholesterol blood test, you might have to do so the night before your appointment -- or wait until afterward. Total cholesterol may be tested as part of a larger lipid profile, which assesses individual blood cholesterol components that help to reveal your risk for heart disease. Your doctor's diagnostic methods and the testing laboratory's protocols will determine whether you need to forego tea and other foods and drinks prior to giving your blood sample.
Cholesterol and Related Tests
Finger-stick cholesterol tests, such as those offered by some pharmacies, are simple procedures that provide baseline total cholesterol values. These tests can tell you if your cardiovascular risk warrants further evaluation. While a total cholesterol test usually doesn't call for fasting preparation, health care providers often order this test in combination with others that do. Providing one blood specimen is the most efficient and convenient way to measure total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and C-reactive protein levels, which offer insight into your cardiovascular condition. Your doctor will instruct you on which tests will be performed and any fasting instructions regarding tea.
Effects of a Normal Diet
Beverages such as tea and foods that you consume are broken down in the gastrointestinal tract and their elements released into the bloodstream for transport to cells or the kidneys. Anything that you ingest other than water introduces specific organic compounds to your system, which may change your blood chemistry and the quality of your sample. Although tea is a water-brewed beverage, it contains caffeine or herbal components that can affect the makeup of your blood specimen. This becomes relevant when testing for a complete cardiovascular risk profile of your blood that includes cholesterol.
Fasting Guidelines
Fasting for a cholesterol test that is part of a lipid profile requires 9 to 12 hours of eating and drinking nothing other than water. Schedule your blood draw for early in the morning so that you can eat a nutritious dinner the previous evening. You can drink tea with this meal before the fasting period begins. Set the start time of your fast in accordance with your doctor's instructions, and drink only water in reasonable amounts up until the time of your test.
If You Need to Fast
Breaking your fast may cause a misdiagnosis or require a retest. Talk with your doctor beforehand to confirm that water only, and not tea or other drinks or food, is allowed prior to the test. Help yourself stick with the fasting instructions by bringing a tea bag and Thermos of hot water with you to your lab appointment. A morning cup of tea will be your reward for providing the best possible blood sample.
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