Preoperative panel

Are you awaiting surgery or a procedure and the hospital requires laboratory results? The preoperative panel brings together the blood and urine tests most often requested before a procedure: blood count, liver, kidneys, sugar, minerals, blood clotting and urine. You can then attend the anaesthetic assessment prepared, with results from one visit.

Who the panel is for

• you are awaiting planned surgery under general or regional anaesthesia;
• the hospital or surgeon asks you to bring laboratory results to the anaesthetic assessment;
• you are preparing for a minor surgical, dental or cosmetic procedure and the doctor has requested basic results;
• you take anticoagulants or have diabetes, liver or kidney disease, so the doctor wants to check your condition before the procedure;
• you previously bled for a long time after a procedure or tooth extraction.

What the panel detects

The panel contains 14 tests, grouped according to what the anaesthetist and surgeon need to know:

• Complete blood count (CBC): haemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets, indicating anaemia, signs of infection and whether platelets are sufficient (more about the blood count).
• AST, ALT and GGT: liver enzymes showing strain on or damage to the liver, important for breaking down medicines and anaesthetics.
• Urea and creatinine: function of the kidneys, which excrete many medicines.
• Glucose (GUK): fasting blood sugar.
• Sodium, potassium and chloride: minerals important for heart and muscle function and fluid balance.
• PT, APTV and fibrinogen: how well blood clots and whether bleeding risk is increased (more about PT and APTV).
• Urine: dipstick and sediment: signs of urinary tract infection and sugar or proteins in urine.

The test and preparation

Venous blood and a first morning urine sample are needed; blood collection takes only a few minutes. Attend in the morning after fasting for 8 to 12 hours because of glucose and PT. You may drink water.

For urine, use a clean urine container. Wash the genital area with water, pass the first part of the stream into the toilet and collect the middle portion. Deliver promptly, preferably within 2 hours. During menstruation it is better to postpone urine sampling because blood alters results (more about urine testing).

Do not stop anticoagulants or other treatment without consulting your doctor. At collection, state which medicines you take, particularly anticoagulants, and when you took the last dose.

What your results mean

• All values within limits: no abnormalities were found in the tests performed. This is only part of preparation: the anaesthetist and surgeon assess whether further investigation is needed and whether the procedure can proceed.
• Low haemoglobin: anaemia. Before major planned surgery, the doctor usually wants to clarify and treat it, so the procedure may sometimes be postponed.
• Elevated glucose: may indicate previously undetected diabetes, best controlled before the procedure.
• Abnormal potassium, sodium, creatinine or liver enzymes: requires checking the cause, and the doctor may adjust doses of certain medicines.
• Prolonged PT or APTV: most often due to anticoagulants, less commonly liver disease or clotting disorders. The doctor decides on preparation for the procedure.
• White blood cells, bacteria or nitrites in urine: the doctor assesses these with your symptoms and procedure type. Bacteria in urine without symptoms are usually not treated. The doctor determines exceptions and whether urine culture is needed.

Reference values are printed on the report. A doctor or anaesthetist interprets results with an examination and your medical conditions. The hospital determines whether an ECG, chest imaging or other tests are needed.

How to arrange testing

You can come for blood collection without an appointment or referral at one of our branches throughout Croatia (listed on the Contact). Bring first morning urine with you, and if the hospital also requests blood group testing, mention this at collection. Prices for all tests and panels are in the price list. If you need clotting tests only, the following is sufficient: Coagulation Panel.

Frequently asked questions

How long before surgery should preoperative tests be performed?

Hospitals require recent results, and their instructions or your anaesthetist will state how old they may be. Plan testing according to the date of your anaesthetic assessment.

Must I stop anticoagulants before blood collection?

No. Do not stop medicines for blood collection. The doctor preparing you for surgery decides how to take them immediately before the procedure.

Do I need to fast?

Yes. Attend in the morning after 8 to 12 hours without food, because a meal alters glucose and may make the clotting test sample cloudy. You may drink water.

Does an out-of-range result mean surgery is cancelled?

Usually not. Many mild abnormalities are unimportant for the procedure, while others can be addressed beforehand. The anaesthetist or surgeon decides alongside examination and your medical conditions.