Can I have a blood test for pregnancy in the afternoon?

Generally, blood tests during pregnancy can be performed in the afternoon, but whether fasting is required depends on the specific test being conducted. Tests requiring fasting are recommended to be done in the morning, while non-fasting tests can be safely performed in the afternoon without affecting results. Detailed analysis is as follows:

If the tests include non-fasting items such as routine blood count, progesterone, or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), an afternoon blood draw is perfectly acceptable. Results for these tests are not affected by food intake. Scheduling them in the afternoon helps avoid hunger and discomfort from fasting in the morning, which is especially beneficial for pregnant women with sensitive constitutions.

However, if the tests require fasting—such as blood glucose, lipid profile, or liver function tests—it is not advisable to schedule them in the afternoon. These tests typically require 8–12 hours of fasting. Morning testing ensures proper compliance with fasting requirements and yields more accurate results. If scheduled in the afternoon, the woman would need to fast throughout the morning and into the afternoon, increasing the risk of dizziness, fatigue, and potential metabolic changes that could affect test accuracy.

Pregnant women should confirm in advance whether their specific blood tests require fasting. For non-fasting tests, afternoon appointments can be arranged according to personal convenience, with normal meals allowed beforehand—though overeating or consuming excessively greasy foods should be avoided. Fasting tests should be completed as early as possible in the morning, followed promptly by nutritional intake after blood collection.