The main step in the timely treatment of any disease is diagnosis. Laboratory tests carried out on time allow us to give the most accurate information about the course of the disease. To achieve this, preparatory measures are needed. Most of our compatriots have a natural interest: how does ethanol affect the accuracy of analyzes?
Does alcohol affect the blood test?
Alcohol can changeblood composition:
- reduce the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin indicators,
- reduce the urea content,
- lower lactate levels,
- reduce glucose levels,
- increase the percentage of triacylglycerols.
Alcohol is able to make the blood more viscous, to increase its thrombosis rates. An increase in the number of adherent cells and red blood cells can be interpreted as megaloblastic anemia.
The biggest deviations in the event that you take alcohol before taking tests are shown by blood chemistry. A decrease in uric acid is a consequence of a violation of the circulatory mechanism. An increase in the concentration of triacylglycerols - indicates the presence of ischemia or hepatitis.
So that tests after alcohol do not mislead doctors, when receiving a referral, it is necessary to inform the specialist of this condition.
In addition to skewing test results, alcohol can interfere with the operation of laboratory devices. The effect of the reagents on ethanol distorts the blood sugar level, so it is impossible to start the treatment of diabetes mellitus on time.
How alcohol affects testing
Ethanol is not the main condition to be eliminated before going to the laboratory. Not only smoking or eating before the test, but also drinking alcohol can reduce the accuracy of the instruments.
Distortion of the analysis under the influence of ethanol can render the diagnosis ineffective. The more alcohol you take, the less objective the result will be.
General analysis
Exposure to alcohol can skew resultsSo:
- destroy red blood cells,
- increase the cholesterol level sometimes by 80%,
- reduce hemoglobin levels because the concentration of red blood cells also decreases.
If you take alcohol just before this test, the greater likelihood that the number of red blood cells (red blood cells that carry oxygen to all organs or tissues and return carbon dioxide) will be reduced.
Alcohol dissolves the membranes of red blood cells, preventing their random natural movement and repulsion is reduced. Red blood cells start to stick together. Their concentration in plasma decreases, which leads to a decrease in hemoglobin parameters. The agglutination of red blood cells leads to the appearance of blood clots and a decrease in the microcirculation of the blood in the vessel.
The blood thickens once the alcohol gets in. Its ability to penetrate through the lumen of the capillaries decreases due to the appeared clots. This situation is dangerous for the health and life of people and prevents a full study of the composition of the blood.
In the liver, under the influence of alcohol, the production of lipids decreases. This reduces the characteristics of the plasma. Such indicators play a major role in the period when the patient is preparing for surgery. Accurate analysis is essential to ensure that the patient's health is monitored when they have had a serious infectious disease or while large areas of wounds are healing.
Blood tests that are takenin less than 12 hoursafter taking alcohol, he can only accurately show general intoxication. A decrease in hemoglobin shows only megaloblastic anemia. But the doctor may refuse to make a diagnosis, referring to the patient's recent consumption of alcohol.
Biochemical indicators
Alcohol has the strongest effect on the biochemical blood test. This analysis is the most complete. With the help of it, you can find out which substances are urgently needed by a person, and which are numerous and urgent to reduce their concentration.
The result of biochemical research under the influence of alcohol changesSo:
- the amount of urea in the blood decreases,
- data on the absorption of oxygen by the cells of the body is violated,
- quantitative indicators of glucose suffer.
The latter factor can pose a threat to the patient's life, since the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is late.
The background increase in urea is also caused by alcohol consumption. Distorted indicators of its contents can mask severe circulatory disease, leading to hemorrhagic shock or acute heart failure. Since urea is involved in the excretion of nitrogen, its increased concentration is a sign of gout and polyarthritis. The accuracy of the diagnosis can only be satisfactory with abstinence from alcohol before taking the tests.
Drinking alcohol before the procedure can lead to an increase in the content of triacylglycerol in the blood. This neutral fatty substance, present in the bloodstream, indicates pathological processes,such as:
- atherosclerosis,
- ischemia,
- thrombosis of the cerebral artery,
- viral hepatitis.
Most doctors, as a matter of principle, exclude drugs containing alcohol from the intake before drawing a patient's blood. But alcohol is believed to help detect the presence of an infectious disease. But even the smallest dose of ethanol skews the test results and makes it unsuitable for the doctor.
According to reports from nurses and doctors, most people do not admit to having consumed alcohol before the test. Another secondary factor that manifests itself when people who have drunk alcohol the day before are tested areare:
- fainting,
- severe headache
- nausea.
The volume of blood drawn into the body by a vein is negligible. Its loss is not a problem for a person. But if the patient comes for tests after taking alcohol, the metabolism is usually impaired and blood flow to the brain is reduced.
Venous supply can lead to oxygen deprivation of the brain. This can lead to severe dizziness or fainting. After that, the patient may have a headache for a long time.
Alcohol poisoning can disrupt the digestive tract. The patient may vomit in the doctor's office or in the laboratory because of the smell of alcohol or chlorine used for disinfection.
Blood sugar test
The study of the amount of glucose in the blood is necessary for people with endocrine disorders. Blood is taken from a finger. If the patient has drunk liquids containing alcohol before drawing blood, his blood thickens, the pressure drops. This makes it difficult to obtain blood and increases the risk of thrombosis.
Exposure to alcohol is a negative factor for liver cells. It also has a negative effect on laboratory devices and reagents. This makes the result inaccurate. The sugar level can be increased or decreased depending on the current state of affairs.
One gram of alcohol can change the kcal number from 7 upwards, which is explained by the rapid penetration of ethanol into tissues and body fluids. Sugar indicators in this case are increased.
Alcohol becomes the cause of low sugar values.About 2. 5 hoursstable blood sugar data is provided by carbohydrates from food. The rest of the period, glucose is produced by the liver, which draws the body's energy resource. Alcohol disrupts normal metabolic processes and causes hypoglycemia.
Blood sugar returns to normalafter 1 or 2 days. . . If the patient is at risk for diabetes mellitus, it is important that he gives the doctor a normal picture. In another case, the doctor will attribute high sugar levels to alcohol consumption. The period when health can be improved will be missed.
Can I drink alcohol before the test?
In any case. Alcohol changes the test result. The most important thing is to completely stop consuming liquids containing alcohol before major surgery.
Sometimes a small amount of alcohol can be taken before testing. The doctor will discuss this condition with the patient during the appointment in a one-on-one conversation.
But in all cases, the recipient must stop taking alcoholic beverages forty-eight hours before the analysis. During this period, the human body has the opportunity to recover.
When tested for HIV, hepatitis B or C, as well as syphilis, the period during which the patient must be completely sober increases to 72 hours. Otherwise, the result of the analysis will be distorted.
If the laboratory assistant or doctor is informed that the patient has been drinking before the tests, the blood donation is postponed. If any information appears later, the analysis is repeated when the acetaldehyde is no longer present in the bloodstream.
The only possibility where alcohol will not affect the result is considered the analysis for alcohol intoxication, which is carried out among drivers of vehicles and certain categories of workers. This test is performed without preparation or warning in order to obtain an objective picture. In all other cases, you can only drink water before taking the test.