It depends on the type of blood test you're having. The healthcare professional arranging your test will tell you if you need to do anything to prepare for it. You can eat and drink as normal before some blood tests. But if you're having a "fasting blood test", you will be told not to eat or drink anything (other than water) beforehand. You may
also be told not to smoke before your test. Examples of blood tests that may require you to fast include: For more information about a wider range of blood tests, go to Lab Tests Online. Page last reviewed: 25 February 2021 Individuals with healthy livers can typically break down one unit of alcohol in the span of an hour. The most reliable way of determining blood alcohol levels is a blood alcohol test. These types of tests are only accurate within six to 12 hours after your last drink. One alcoholic unit is defined as 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, which is roughly equivalent to:
Factors That Can Affect How Long Alcohol Does Stay In Your System after DrinkingNo two people are the same, and everybody can experience the effects of alcohol in different ways. Depending on these factors, alcohol may be processed by the body faster or slower. Once alcohol enters the blood, there is no way to speed up the elimination process like drinking water or coffee. While drinking water or coffee may make you feel better or more alert, it doesn’t affect the alcohol levels in your blood. [inline_cta_one] Factors that affect how long alcohol stays in your blood, include: AgeAge can play a significant factor in how long alcohol stays in the blood. The older someone is, the more worn their organs become including the liver, which is responsible for removing 90 percent of alcohol from the body. WeightThe more someone weighs the more alcohol it will take to increase their blood alcohol levels. However, being overweight may not affect alcohol levels in the body because alcohol is not very fat-soluble. GenderMen tend to have more lean tissue mass, which equates to a higher tolerance to alcohol. Men also have more of the enzyme responsible for breaking down alcohol in their stomach. Women are typically built smaller and have a lower tolerance to alcohol because of it. MedicationsConsuming other medications can impact how long alcohol stays in the blood. The body sees alcohol like a toxin that needs to be removed. Taking other medicines in addition to alcohol can confuse the body’s systems on which substance to extract first. In some cases, the liver will only have the capacity to process the other medication, and removing alcohol will come later. Food ConsumptionEating before consuming alcohol can influence how much alcohol is absorbed by the body at once. This can slow the ingestion of alcohol, causing it to stay in your system longer. The reverse is also true. When drinking on an empty stomach, alcohol is absorbed more quickly. Though this doesn’t speed up how long alcohol stays in your blood, the faster it is absorbed, the quicker the liver can process it. Type and Strength of AlcoholDepending on the kind of alcohol someone drinks, how long it stays in your blood can vary. The stronger the alcohol, the harder the liver and other organs will have to work to remove it which—depending on the health of the individual—can increase the amount of time alcohol remains in the blood. Blood Alcohol Levels: How Does The Body Eliminate Alcohol From Your System?Alcohol is a toxin that the body must work to eliminate from the body and blood. Roughly 90 percent of alcohol is removed through the liver, and the remaining 10 percent is eliminated through sweat, breath, and urine. Once alcohol enters your bloodstream, it is carried to all parts of the body. Most healthy people circulate blood throughout their bodies in about 90 seconds, which allows alcohol to reach the brain and other organs in a short time. The full effects of alcohol are typically felt 15 to 45 minutes after consumption, depending on the speed of absorption. How Long Is Alcohol Detectable In Breath, Urine, And Hair?While alcohol in the blood is detectable six to 24 hours after consumption, alcohol can be detected in other bodily fluids for different lengths of time. Alcohol can be detected in:
Risks Of Alcohol Use and Getting TreatmentIndividuals who consume alcohol at a faster rate than their bodies can eliminate it their blood alcohol levels will continue to rise. There are many risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption. These risks can include increased chances of:
To learn more about alcohol detoxification treatment programs, contact an addiction specialist today. Post navigationDoes drinking alcohol the night before a blood test affect it?In general, alcohol the night before should not affect your blood test results, Dr. Krajcik says. If you begin fasting 12 hours before the test (including alcohol), it will most likely be metabolized, as long as you keep it to a drink or two. However, if the panel is specific to your liver enzymes, they may be altered.
Can a blood test show heavy drinking?The short answer is yes: blood testing can show heavy alcohol use. However, timing plays a significant role in the accuracy of blood alcohol testing. In a typical situation, blood alcohol tests are only accurate six to 12 hours after someone consumes their last beverage.
Can I drink alcohol 14 hours before blood test?Drinking alcohol before blood test is strictly prohibited. Because alcohol can have its effects on our blood sugar levels and fat levels, drinking alcohol prior to a blood test can produce a false blood test report.
|