For the study, researchers compared cholesterol testing results of 300,000 people from Denmark, Canada, and the U.S. In both the U.S. and Canada, fasting for eight hours before a test is required. In Denmark, however, it is not.
Patients who are scheduled for a lipid profile test should fast (except for water) for 12-14 hours before the blood sample is drawn. If the patient's cholesterol is to be fractionated, he or she also should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test. http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Ato...
Fasting for a Lipid Panel. A lipid panel, which is sometimes known as a lipid profile, is a blood test that measures for high cholesterol or fat. Cholesterol is an important substance that provides support to the outer membrane of the cell, but too much cholesterol can also be dangerous.