Blood test done before or after physical?

I have always had the blood and urine tests a week or so before the exam. I now can access my chart online and see the results from all my tests and doctor visits.

If you have a medical condition and labwork pertains to it, it doesn't make sense to have a physical exam before the labwork. In my case, an unexpected result far enough out gives me a chance to see if an error occurred, and labwork reissued, prior to meeting with my doctor.

After the exam

This is off the blood draw topic, but every 6 months I have a cystoscopy to check for any new bladder tumors. A week before the scoping, I have to go to my urologist's office, give him a clean catch urine sample, which he sends off for a cytology screening. (They are looking for any signs of any malignant cells in my urine).

Three years ago, my urologist removed a malignant tumor from my bladder. My Dr. has said that at some point I will only be scoped yearly, for life.

I have had it done both ways in the past, sometimes before, sometimes after. Usually, if it's a first exam with a new doctor, they do an exam first to determine what needs to be checked in the blood test. Then once established it is usually done before the exam. I can see it both ways. Sometimes the history or physical might reveal something that needs to be checked/ verified with a blood test. And sometimes the blood test might reveal something that needs physically examined or possibly extra medicine prescribed. Personally, I prefer sitting face to face with my doctor to discuss my results from a blood test done before the exam.

If the blood test is for psa test always before the exam. My doctor explained the is it is shown that after a digital prostate exam it can alter your psa numbers.

Used to be done before the exam so we could discuss the results in person. Now it seems the protocol is to have a face to face and determine what blood tests are needed. If you wait a couple of days after a DRE before drawing blood it should not affect your PSA. Same with not having sex or masturbating for a couple of days before drawing blood. I doubt it would make a major difference (don't know - just my opinion).

Here I don't get physical like it's done in the West. So after vitals are taken then blood tests are done (including fasting glucose) then scans then breakfast then post meal glucose blood test. And then the rest.

If the blood test is for psa test always before the exam. My doctor explained the is it is shown that after a digital prostate exam it can alter your psa numbers.

I've never heard that but after the first physical my doc has me go to the lab a couple weeks before and my results are ready. We also discuss what tests for next time. It works very well. I always get an A1C

I've never heard that but after the first physical my doc has me go to the lab a couple weeks before and my results are ready. We also discuss what tests for next time. It works very well. I always get an A1C

What is an A1C?? Looked it up - hemoglobin test for diabetes...It's also called HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin test, and glycohemoglobin. (WOW!)

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/mens-health/why-should-i-avoid-sexual-activity-before-a-psa-test/

"Before having a PSA test, men should not have ejaculated during the previous 48 hours. Semen released during sexual activity can cause PSA levels to rise temporarily, which may affect the test results. For the same reason, before having a PSA test men should not have: exercised vigorously in the previous 48 hours; an active urinary infection (PSA may remain raised for many months); had a prostate biopsy in the previous 6 weeks"

I also suspect driving on the wrong side of the road or giving someone an enema will raise your PSA level, so if those are habits of yours - abstain!! 😄

I e mail my MD about a week b4 my annual wellness exam and he orders a series of screening blood tests. He has the results within 24 hrs so by the time I see him, he comments on the tests. He reviews them b4 my visit and releases the results so I can review them b4 seeing him if I so desire, but I usually forget about that feature on their web site.

My doc orders blood tests during my visit - so the results come out a few days after I go in for the blood draw which usually is a couple of days later. We have a web-based interface where the results are posted and I often see the results before my doc does. The results show each factor and what the normal ranges are - so you can tell if something is out of whack. I get a follow up email from my doc either saying everything is OK or if I need to change or start a new med - or quit drinking .....

Usually how its happened for me, the blood tests are ordered after the physical is over and then there's a follow up (if needed) to discuss the results.

When I set up my appointment for my physical, they set up an additional lab appointment a week or so prior to the exam. I do like this setup as the results will be in the office and we can discuss them together. In the past, I got it all done the same day which meant I had to wait for the results.

I go to the lab around 7:00 for fasting blood draw. I see my doc about 9:00. He can pull up the results on his monitor and we discuss them. My annual wellness check is very efficient and don't see any reason all routine visits shouldn't be this way.

Back in Colorado my doc would order blood work before the exam so he had the results when I showed up. Now, they want to see me first and decide based on our discussions what tests to call in.

Everything is on the web (MyChart) so I usually see the results before my doctor does. She always follows up with an email stating something to the effect that everything looks good, get on a zinc or other supplement,or that I am about to fucking die (haven't got that one yet)!! 😄

Maybe a real Zity doc can weigh into this but I feel the insurance companies are trying to drive down costs and making it more difficult for doctors.

Always a before with enough time for me to get my results days before seeing the doc so I can study them and come up with questions.

I usually get called in a week before the exam to get blood drawn, and when I actually come in, they have the results and go over everything with me.

I always get blood tests done at the beginning of my physical after the nurse has done their preliminary assessment of me. Then I usually get a follow up call a day or so after my appointment sharing the results. But this is not usual though, normally they don't ask me for one.

Usually if I get a blood test, it is done after the physical. The doctor will take the blood after the physical.

I get my blood work a week or so in advance. That way we can go over my A1C and other problem areas.

I get my blood work a week or so in advance. That way we can go over my A1C and other problem areas.

You’re a special needs patient. 😄 When you can let us know how the procedure went.

It was no big thing. I went into UCLA for an ablation. They did a cat scan the day before, a nasal swab for covid which wasn't as bad as they say. Then the big day. I went in and they drew blood and then a nurse came in and shaved my groin and didn't leave much. She also put on a butt pad to keep me from getting sores. It went on the top of your ass maybe 3 inches of butt crack. That was a first! I got rolled into the OR and I asked them "Hey I have a friend that's an OR nurse and she says as soon as you put me out you strip me naked" The guy looked at me and said yep . I told him they might need the extra large cath and he laughed. I was on the table for 7 hours and they went up veins on either side in my groin and one in the neck. I woke up pretty groggy but my post op nurse kept the good drugs coming for a few hours until I went to recovery. They burned 3 different places and so far no afib. The nurse did also pull the cath which was interesting. They just jerk up the covers and grab hold. She did wash willie good at the end though. Interesting couple of days.

Usually the doctor orders my lab work after my physical.

Same here, nowadays mine is usually done at the end, but growing up it was the other way around. Maybe it depends on the type of exam or it's a "weird" doctor thing ... never the less, I was never locking forward to it (still hate needles to this day ...)

Mine have always wanted the results of a blood test before the physical so he/she knows what to look for or discuss with me.

Actually it behoove's any doctor to have your labs done before (s)he see's you. It makes it easier for your Doctore to tell whether you have a real problem or you're just a wuss and need just need some attention.

I always get my lab work done before my physical, then the Dr can look at it and see if there is anything that needs attention. Just had blood drawn last week, physical next week. So far so good.

When I’ve had to get blood work done in conjunction with a physical, it’s been at the start of my appointment. I’d be called back, get my height and weight and vitals checked, and then the nurse would draw blood. The doctor wouldn’t review the bloodwork immediately, but would follow up if there were any issues.

Most of the time, my labs are done before my physical, that way my PCP knows if my thyroid medication needs to be adjusted or not. The only time I've ever had them done after the appointment was when I visited an endocrinologist who came up with some wacky blood tests he thought I needed.