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...
Tests to determine your lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL) usually require fasting. You also will be told to fast before glucose testing. Other tests may also require fasting. If you donât fast, or fast for a shorter time than prescribed, your tests could give inaccurate results, meaning youâll likely have to repeat the test.