Doctors often tell their patients that fasting for blood work is necessary without explaining in detail what “fasting” means. You may wonder how long you need to fast, whether you can drink water, if you can keep taking medications, and which tests require which restrictions.
Different types of blood tests are administered for different reasons. Your doctor may order a blood test to diagnose suspected diseases, test organ function, assess risk factors, or test the effectiveness of medications. Blood tests are a common routine that most new patients and those returning for a checkup are ordered to undergo.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March of 2020, the medical community struggled to find its footing. Between inaccessible testing, the closing doors of urgent cares, and overwhelmed medical systems, many patients found themselves without access to reliable care. Speedy Sticks, founded by Dr. Carlos Barrera, Dr. Jeremy Jacob, and Daniel Buitrago, was created to address this issue. While COVID-19 saw an urgent, time-sensitive need for care and testing facilities, many patients felt uncomfortable leaving the home.…