Do I need to fast before my cardiac labs?

It depends on which tests were ordered and what your ordering provider wishes to know. The American College of Cardiology recommends a non-fasting sample when evaluating the risk of heart disease in a person not treated for high cholesterol, or when screening for metabolic syndrome. However, they recommend a fasting sample when screening individuals with a family history of inherited cholesterol problems or early onset heart disease, when confirming hypertriglyceridemia or high triglycerides, when evaluating pancreatitis, or when evaluating the risk of heart disease in a person treated for high cholesterol. It is recommended that people whose triglyceride levels are found to be abnormally high during a non-fasting test have a fasting test to confirm the result.