I'm having my cholesterol checked tomorrow at one of those free health fair type things. Does anyone know if it's supposed to be fasting or do I just eat normally in the morning before I go? There are no instructions on the notice I got. I imagine it's just a finger stick and a little cartridge test with results in a few minutes?

Anyone ever had this done at this type of place?

TIA

It depends what test they are doing. They can measure your total cholesterol without fasting. However, to get the breakdown of hdl/ldl/triglycerides (which is what you want -- total cholesterol by itself isn't all that meaningful) you need to fast for 12 hour before the test and you need to refrain from alcohol for three days before the test. I know this because I just scheduled this test myself with my doctor and they sent me the instructions.

Thanks

It probably is just total since it's a freebie. As soon as I get insurance I'll get the full workup. I'm going at 7:30 so I'll just not eat anything from now til afterwards and see what happens.

I went to a health fair a couple of weeks ago. The cholesterol test did require fasting. Get there early because there were huge lines for it.