Which term describes abstaining from eating or drinking (except water) before a test?

Which term describes abstaining from eating or drinking (except water) before a test?

• A. Hydration
• B. Fasting
• C. Starvation
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (B)

Fasting means abstaining from eating and drinking anything other than water for a period before a test. This is done because many lab results—such as glucose and lipid levels—can be altered by recent meals, so fasting helps obtain baseline, comparable results. Hydration describes having fluids, but it doesn’t imply withholding intake. Starvation would be an extreme, prolonged lack of food and is far beyond what a test requires. Dehydration is a lack of body water, not the act of skipping meals or drinks. Since the description matches abstaining from eating and drinking with water allowed, the term fasting is the best fit.

Fasting means abstaining from eating and drinking anything other than water for a period before a test. This is done because many lab results—such as glucose and lipid levels—can be altered by recent meals, so fasting helps obtain baseline, comparable results. Hydration describes having fluids, but it doesn’t imply withholding intake. Starvation would be an extreme, prolonged lack of food and is far beyond what a test requires. Dehydration is a lack of body water, not the act of skipping meals or drinks. Since the description matches abstaining from eating and drinking with water allowed, the term fasting is the best fit.