Prepare for a medical test
Use these questions with your clinician or testing team. Preparation and result timelines vary by test. Follow the instructions they give you; this page cannot interpret a personal result.
Before the test
- What is this test for, and what information could it provide?
- How is it done, how might it feel, and what benefits or risks should I discuss?
- Do I need to prepare, including instructions about eating, drinking, or activity?
- Could any medicines, vitamins, or supplements I take affect preparation? Should I change anything?
- If I cannot follow an instruction exactly, whom should I tell?
Tell your care team about what you take. Do not stop a prescribed medicine for a test unless your clinician tells you to.
Sources: AHRQ: questions during a visit · MedlinePlus: preparing for a lab test
Results and next steps
- When and how will I get the results, and who will explain them?
- What do the results mean for me alongside my health history and other information?
- What happens next, and whom should I contact if the results do not arrive when expected?
Do not make a personal decision from a result or a reference range on this page. Discuss the report with your clinician.
Sources: AHRQ: follow-up questions · MedlinePlus: understanding lab results
General education only. Source links checked September 29, 2026; independent clinician review of this site is pending. Privacy and limitations · Understanding eye tests · Get urgent help