Main Line Health Laboratories > Patient Information

Patient Preparation Guide

The lab tests listed below have special requirements that should be adhered to prior to specimen collection. The tests are listed alphabetically.

Patients please note: Obtain the advice of your physician before discontinuing any medications.

TESTS	PREPARATION
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA)	On the day prior to and the day of the specimen collection, avoid: bananas avocados plums eggplant tomatoes plantains pineapples walnuts If acceptable to your physician, do not take any of the following medications for the 48-hour period prior to specimen collection: acetaminophen (Tylenol) salicylates (aspirin) phenacetin cough syrup containing glycerol guaiacolate mephenesin isoniazid MAO inhibitors (e.g., Parnate®, Nardil®, Marplan®) methenamine (Prosed® or Urinsed®) methyldopa (Aldomet®) phenothiazines (e.g., Thorazine®, Mellaril®, Stelazine®)
Alpha-1- Antitrypsin	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Amino Acid Quantitation (Urine and Plasma)	Fasting (4 hrs) required
Amino Acid Screen (qualitative)	Fasting (4 hrs) required
Anti Histone Ab	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Anti ssDNA IGG Antibodies	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Anti-Platelet antibody Screen	Scheduled by appointment at MLHL Hospital collection facilities only.
Antithombin III Antigenic	Fasting (overnight) preferred. If acceptable to your physician, refrain from taking the following medications for 3 days prior to the specimen collection: Anabolic steroids gemfibrozil Warfarin (Coumadin) heparin therapy asparaginase estrogens gestogene oral contraceptives
Ant-ssDNA IGG Antibodies	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Apolipoprotein evaluation	Fasting (12 hrs)
Arginine Vassopressin (ADH)	Fasting (4 hrs)
Arsenic, Random Urine	Refrain from eating shellfish, shrimp, crab, lobster and bottom-feeding fish such as flounder for at least 3 days prior to the specimen collection.
Basic Metabolic Panel	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Bleeding Time	If acceptable to your physician, refrain from taking aspirin for 3 to 5 days prior to the test.
Cadmium, Random Urine	Patients should refrain from eating shellfish for at least 3 days prior to the specimen collection.
Calcitonin	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Cardio C-reactive protein (highly or ultra sensitive CRP)	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Catecholamines, Plasma	Fasting (overnight) For the day before and the day of specimen collection, do not consume: alcohol bananas tea coffee caffeine chocolate If you have had an X-ray procedure during which contrast material was injected (IVP, angiogram, myelogram, etc.), wait at least 3 days before collecting a specimen.
Cholesterol	Fasting (overnight) required if performed as part of a lipid panel.
Chromium, Urine	If acceptable to your physician, refrain from taking vitamins or mineral supplements at least 1 week prior to collection.
Chromosome Studies	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel	Fasting (overnight) preferred
C-Peptide	Fasting
Cryoglobulins	Fasting (overnight) required
DHEA Uncojugated	Fasting required
D-Xylose absorption	Fasting (overnight and during test period). Scheduled by appointment at MLHL hospital collection facilities only.
Fecal Occult Blood	If acceptable to your physician, avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) and naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®) for 7days prior to and during the test period. If acceptable to your physician, avoid for 48 hours prior to and during the test period: Vitamin C in excess of 250 mg per day (from all sources, dietary and supplemental) red meat (beef, lamb), including processed meats and liver Raw fruits and vegetables (especially melons, turnips and horseradish)
Fragile-X Chromosome	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Gastrin	Fasting (12 hrs)
Glucagon	Fasting required
Glucose (Fasting Blood Sugar)	Fasting (overnight) required
Glucose Tolerance Tests	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Heavy Metals panel	Patient should refrain from eating seafood at least 3 days prior to specimen collection.
Hepatic Function Panel	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Insulin	Fasting required
Jewish Genetic (Tay-Sachs) Panel	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Karyotyping	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Lactate, venous	Patient should be fasting and on bed rest 2 hours prior to collection.
Lactose Tolerance	Fasting
Leukemia Panel	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Lipid Profile	Fasting (overnight) required
Lipoprotein (a)	Fasting (overnight) required
Lipoprotein A	Fasting (overnight) required
Lymphocyte Immune Panel	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Lymphoma Panel	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Metanephrines	Fasting (overnight) For the day before and the day of specimen collection, do not consume: alcohol bananas tea coffee caffeine chocolate If you have had an X-ray procedure during which contrast material was injected (IVP, angiogram, myelogram, etc.), wait at least 3 days before collecting a specimen.
Peroxisomal Panel	Fasting. No alcohol consumption for 24 hours prior to specimen collection.
Philadelphia Chromosome	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Proinsulin	Fasting (overnight) required
Protein C (Antigenic)	If acceptable to your physician, if you are receiving Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy, discontinue medication 2 weeks before testing.
Pyruvate	Fasting
Renal Profile	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Ristocetin cofactor	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Schilling Test	Patients should call Bryn Mawr Hospital Radiology at 610-526-8818 to schedule an appointment.
Semen Analysis	By appointment only. Collection at MLHL hospitals only. Contact the lab at 610-229-4200 for instructions.
Sweat Test	Available only at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Schedule an appointment with Bryn Mawr Hospital lab at 610-526-3508.
Tay-Sachs Panel	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Triglycerides	Fasting (overnight) required. Water permitted.
Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA)	The day before and the day of the specimen collection, do not consume: bananas fruit juices octopus meat If acceptable to your physician, the day before and the day of the collection the following drugs should be avoided: triamterene (Diazide®, Dyrenium®, Maxzide®) phenylpyruvic acid labetalol (Normodyne®, Trandate®) methyldopa (Aldomet®)
Vitamin A (Retinol)	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Vitamin B6	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Vitamin C	Fasting (overnight) preferred. If acceptable to your physician, refrain from taking vitamins or vitamin supplements for at least 24 hrs prior to collection.
Vitamin E	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Von Willebrand Factor Panel	Scheduled by appointment at all MLHL collection facilities.
Xylose Absorption	Fasting (overnight) preferred
Zinc	If acceptable to your physician, refrain from taking vitamins or mineral supplements at least 3 days prior to specimen collection.