Under standard conditions, blood for routine laboratory tests should be drawn:

• on an empty stomach, unless otherwise advised by a doctor,
• while maintaining the current diet, unless otherwise advised by a doctor,
• before taking the morning dose of medication, unless otherwise advised by a doctor.

A few days before the planned blood sample collection for laboratory tests, you should:

• avoid alcohol and other stimulants,
• avoid intense physical exertion.

NOTE: Approximately 15 minutes of rest is recommended before venous blood sample collection.

If the conditions for venous blood collection do not meet the above standard conditions, appropriate information should be provided to the person collecting the sample.

Blood samples for routine lipid profile testing do not need to be taken on an empty stomach.

NOTE: If non-fasting triglyceride levels are > 400 mg/dl (>4.5 mmol/l), consider repeating the test with a fasting sample.

Before performing a lipid profile test, it is recommended to:

• completely exclude alcohol consumption 2 – 3 days before the test,
• follow a moderate, usual diet about 1 week before the test, and eat meals regularly (avoid fasting and special diets),
• avoid intense physical exertion 24 hours before the test,
• remain at rest, e.g., sitting, 30 minutes before blood collection.

• Stool should be passed naturally, at any time of the day, into a clean, dry container.
• Then, using a spatula, collect a portion of stool (the size of a hazelnut or, in the case of liquid stool, about 1-2 ml) from several different places and place it in a disposable container (available at pharmacies, for example). 
• After collecting the stool sample, the container should be tightly closed and appropriately labelled, including: surname and first name, test name, date and time of stool sample collection.
• The container with the stool sample should be delivered to the laboratory immediately.
• The container with the stool sample can be stored at a temperature of 2 – 8 °C for up to 7 days.

• Urine should be from the first or, in justified cases, the second morning portion, provided that the last urination occurred at least 4 hours earlier.
• Do not collect urine samples during menstruation in women, and if necessary, secure the vaginal opening with a tampon.
• On the day before the test, it is recommended to follow a usual diet with a physiological amount of fluids (about 2 litres per day). Additionally, avoid increased physical exertion immediately before providing the urine sample for analysis.
• Providing a urine sample must be preceded by thoroughly washing the genital area adjacent to the urethral opening with running water, without using disinfectants.
• If washing with running water is not possible, the skin around the external genitalia should be wiped twice with sterile gauze moistened with water.
• Urine for a general test should be collected from the midstream, meaning the first portion of urine should be passed into the toilet, and then, without interrupting the stream, collect about 50 ml of urine into a disposable container or about 10 ml into a dedicated test tube (available at pharmacies, for example). The rest of the urine should be passed into the toilet.
• After collecting the urine sample, the container/test tube should be tightly closed and appropriately labelled, including: surname and first name, test name, date and time of urine sample collection.
• The container/test tube with the urine sample should be delivered to the laboratory within 1-2 hours of collection.

NOTE: A general urine test with microscopic sediment evaluation should be performed no later than 2 hours after sample collection. The transport time of the urine sample to the laboratory should not exceed 1.5 hours. In justified cases, urine samples may be stored for up to 4 hours at a temperature of 2 – 8 º C.

• do not attend during menstruation,
• ideally perform the test between the 5th and 12th day of the cycle,
• discontinue vaginal medications 3–4 days before the test,
• avoid intercourse 2 days before the test,
• do not perform douching the day before the test.

Maintain basic hygiene of intimate areas before the test.

Planning for 24-hour urine collection should consider, among other things:

• the need to maintain necessary privacy for collecting urine over 24 hours,
• the need to maintain a moderate, usual diet, unless otherwise advised by a doctor,
• the appropriate time for completion, allowing convenient transport of the sample to the laboratory.

For 24-hour urine collection, prepare a clean container with a capacity of 2 – 3 litres, with a tightly fitting lid and possibly a scale to facilitate volume assessment of the excreted urine.

Urine collected throughout the day should be kept in a cool place, without using preservatives.

To perform 24-hour urine collection:

• in the morning, empty the bladder into the toilet (do not collect this portion of urine!) and note the exact time of this action (this will be the start time of the 24-hour collection),
• collect each subsequent portion of urine into the aforementioned container,
• complete the collection the next day at the time previously designated as the start of the collection.
• Mix the collected urine thoroughly and measure the total volume excreted during the collection.
• Deliver (only!) a sample of urine from the 24-hour collection, poured into a previously prepared disposable container with a capacity of 50-100 ml, to the laboratory (available at pharmacies, for example).
• Label the prepared urine sample appropriately, adding information about the total volume of urine excreted during the collection!
• The container with the sample from the 24-hour urine collection should be delivered to the laboratory within 2 – 3 hours of completion, and the rest of the collected urine should be discarded.

At least 3 days before performing the oral glucose tolerance test, you should:

• follow a normal carbohydrate diet (i.e., do not significantly restrict carbohydrate intake),
• maintain usual physical activity,
• consume the last, easily digestible meal in the evening, 8 – 10 hours before the test.

During the oral glucose tolerance test, you should not:

• consume meals,
• take medications,
• smoke cigarettes,
• increase physical activity (e.g., do not run, do not cycle).

NOTE: The first blood sample, the so-called "zero" sample, should be taken as early as possible in the morning, strictly on an empty stomach. Exactly 120 minutes after drinking the glucose solution (75 g of glucose dissolved in 300 ml of boiled, lukewarm water), the second blood sample should be taken. The OGTT result may be false if the test is conducted under non-standard conditions.

• remain fasting for at least 6 hours before the test,
• take medications as advised by the doctor,
• consult with the doctor regarding diabetes or medications affecting coagulation,
• bring previous medical documentation,
• after the test under anaesthesia – do not drive for 12 hours.

The test is conducted at the Centre for Cancer Prevention (2nd floor).

Bowel preparation according to medical instructions (e.g., Fortrans).

• take medications as advised,
• consult regarding diabetes or coagulation medications,
• after anaesthesia – the presence of an accompanying person is mandatory.

The test is conducted at the Centre for Cancer Prevention (2nd floor).

• best time: between the 5th and 12th day of the cycle,
• do not use cosmetics on the day of the test,
• wear comfortable clothing, without jewellery,
• bring previous results and identification document,
• a referral is not required for a preventive test.

• the day before: light diet, avoid gas-producing products,
• take Espumisan 3×2 capsules,
• drink 1–1.5 litres of water 2 hours before the test and do not urinate.

• remain fasting for at least 6 hours,
• the day before: light diet, avoid gas-producing products,
• Espumisan 3×2 capsules the day before the test.

Bring previous imaging test results to the examination.