For companies considering hosting on-site health screenings, one of the most commonly asked questions is about fasting vs. non-fasting lipid testing.
Traditionally, most doctors will tell you: for accurate results, you must fast for at least eight hours before a lipid profile. But a recent large study in Canada showed that cholesterol levels aren't radically different in people who ate compared to those who fasted before their blood was drawn. The study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in November 2012, suggests that fasting for routine lipid level determinations is largely unnecessary.
While both types of lipid testing provide results concerning total cholesterol levels, there are some items HR and health promotion professionals should consider when choosing health screening tests.
