Medical abbreviation:
FBG, RBG
Type:
Blood test
Definition:
Blood Glucose assesses the level of glucose in the blood stream, typically in the plasma fraction of blood. This can done as a random (RBG) or fasting (FBG- usually from 10pm the night before until the blood test is done) sample.
When would I need this test?
The test is most often requested as a diagnostic test for diabetes, but may also be part of health screening and maternity screening programs. Doctors may suspect diabetes if a patient presents with some or all of the following symptoms, tiredness, excessive thirst, passing urine frequently and weight loss. The diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed by the above symptoms and either a fasting plasma (venous) glucose result greater than 7mmol/l or a random plasma (venous) glucose result greater than 11.1mmol/l. In some patients, where blood results are inconclusive, they may require a further test called an oral glucose tolerance test.
