Guide to Preparing for Your Health Screening in Singapore
by: Dr. Paul Chang, General Practitioner, Regis Medical
Last updated: December 2, 2025
The Complete, Patient Friendly Guide to Preparing for Health Screening in Singapore
A health screening is like a quiet conversation between you and your body, a moment where you pause, listen, and gather clues about how well your internal systems are ticking along. In Singapore, where preventive care is strongly encouraged and screening packages are widely available, preparing properly can make your results more accurate and your experience far smoother.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know: what to expect, how to prepare, what to avoid, and how to interpret the journey before and after your screening. It’s designed to be clear, practical, and genuinely helpful for anyone stepping into a GP clinic for routine preventive care.
Why Preparing for Your Health Screening Matters
Preparing well helps your healthcare team see the “true” version of your body. Without proper preparation, some results may appear falsely high or low, making it harder to detect early warning signs.
Good preparation helps:
- Improve accuracy of blood, urine, and imaging tests
- Reveal hidden risks (e.g., prediabetes, high cholesterol)
- Allow doctors to compare your results meaningfully across the years
- Prevent unnecessary repeat tests
Your health screening is like a snapshot; preparation ensures the picture is sharp.
- Understand Your Health Screening Package
- Fasting Guidelines: The Most Important Prep Step
- Food, Drinks & Lifestyle to Avoid Before Your Screening
- Morning of Screening Checklist
- Medication & Supplement Guidelines
- Special Instructions for Women
- What to Wear & Bring on Screening Day
- Preparing for Urine, Stool & Specific Tests
- Preparing for Imaging Tests
- Timing, Expectations & Waiting Time
- After Your Screening
- How Often Should You Go for a Health Screening in Singapore?
Understand Your Health Screening Package
Before your appointment, look through the tests included. In Singapore, most health screening packages fall into categories such as:
- Basic screening (blood tests, urine tests, blood pressure, BMI)
- Executive or comprehensive screening (ECG, ultrasound, X,ray)
- Age, or gender,specific packages (women’s health screening, men's health screening)
- Chronic disease monitoring (diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol)
Always clarify:
- Whether fasting is required
- Whether any imaging tests are included
- If your package involves special preparations (e.g., stool test, stress test)
Your GP clinic or Doctor can help you select a package based on age, medical history, family history, and lifestyle habits.
Fasting Guidelines: The Most Important Prep Step
Most patients worry about this part, but fasting is simple once you understand the rules.
Why fasting matters
Food and drinks can temporarily raise your:
- Blood sugar
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Liver enzymes
This can make healthy numbers look falsely abnormal.
Typical fasting duration
- 8 to 10 hours, usually overnight.
What you can consume
- Plain water (unlimited)
What to avoid
- Coffee (even black)
- Tea (even plain)
- Milk, juices, soft drinks
- Sweets, chewing gum, mints
- Smoking or vaping (can affect certain readings)
Tip: Drink water generously. It helps with smoother blood draws and prevents dehydration related dizziness.
Food, Drinks & Lifestyle to Avoid Before Your Screening
This is where many people unintentionally distort their results. Avoid the following:
24 to 48 hours before screening
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can temporarily affect:
- Liver function tests
- Triglyceride levels
- Blood sugar
- Dehydration levels
Avoid very heavy, oily, or salty meals
Fatty meals can spike your triglycerides.
Avoid strenuous exercise
Hard workouts can raise:
- CK (muscle enzymes)
- Kidney markers
- Heart rate and blood pressure
Get enough sleep
Poor or limited sleep can elevate blood pressure and affect glucose readings.
Aim for 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep the night before.
Morning of Screening Checklist
Think of the morning as keeping your body in “neutral mode.”
Do:
- Drink water
- Wear comfortable clothes (more on this below)
- Bring identification and medical information
Don’t:
- Eat or drink anything except water
- Smoke, vape, or exercise vigorously
- Apply thick lotions or creams on your chest (may interfere with ECG patches)
- Wear perfume if doing breast ultrasound (fragrance oils sometimes interfere with gel application)
Medication & Supplement Guidelines
This part varies person to person, always check with your doctor if unsure.
Usually okay to take:
- Blood pressure medications
- Thyroid medications
- Most chronic illness medications
Unless otherwise recommended by your Doctor
Take with caution or pause (ask your doctor first):
- Diabetes medications (Risk of low blood sugar while fasting)
- Insulin (You may need dose adjustments)
- Iron tablets (Affect stool test appearance)
- Vitamin supplements (May influence certain lab markers)
For safety, bring a list of all your regular medications with doses.
Special Instructions for Women
Avoid scheduling your screening during menstruation. Especially if your package includes:
- Urine test
- Pelvic exam
- Pap smear
- HPV Screening
Blood contamination in urine can lead to inaccurate readings.
If you are pregnant, inform the clinic before:
- X-ray
- Certain ultrasounds
- Certain medications
Your screening will be adjusted to ensure safety.
For mammograms
- Avoid using perfume or powder on the day. They may appear as specks on imaging.
What to Wear & Bring on Screening Day
Think comfort and convenience.
Clothing
- Two-piece outfit (top + bottom)
- Easy to remove tops for ECG and X-ray
- Avoid dresses or jumpsuits
Bring Along
- NRIC/FIN/Passport
- Previous screening results (If available)
- Medication list
- Glasses or contact lens prescription (for vision tests)
- Referral letters (if any)
Optional but helpful
- A light jacket (clinics can be chilly)
- A bottle of water
Preparing for Urine, Stool & Specific Tests
Urine Test
- Try to come with a partially full bladder
- Midstream samples are usually required (the clinic will guide you)
Stool Test
If included:
- Avoid iron and bismuth supplements 48 hours prior (can darken stool)
- Avoid red meat for 24 hours (may affect certain stool screening tests)
Blood Pressure Check
- Avoid caffeine, smoking, and rushing. Stress or activity can temporarily elevate readings.
Preparing for Imaging Tests
Chest X-ray:
- Remove necklaces, metal accessories, and bras with metal wiring
- Inform the staff if you are pregnant
Abdominal Ultrasound:
- Fast for 6-8 hours
- Avoid gassy foods the day before (beans, carbonated drinks)
Pelvic Ultrasound
- You may need a full bladder
- Drink 4,6 glasses of water 1 hour before
ECG (Electrocardiogram)
- Avoid lotions or oils on the chest
- Wear a separate top for easy access
Timing, Expectations & Waiting Time
Most health screenings in Singapore take 1 to 2 hours, depending on:
- Number of tests
- Time of day
- Patient flow in the clinic
If fasting, try to book a morning slot , it’s gentler on your energy levels and prevents prolonged hunger.
After Your Screening
This is the easy part , you’re almost done.
Right after your screening:
- Have a light meal if you were fasting
- Drink plenty of water
- Resume normal medications (unless your doctor advises otherwise)
Results are typically available within:
- 1 - 5 working days (basic packages)
- 7 - 10 days (comprehensive packages)
Book a review after receiving your results:
- Understand your reports
- Check abnormal readings
- Plan lifestyle adjustments
- Schedule follow-up tests or referrals if needed
Your results become meaningful only when interpreted in context , like puzzle pieces forming a bigger picture.
How Often Should You Go for a Health Screening in Singapore?
General guidelines:
Every 1 year: Adults above 18 with risk factors (family history, smoking, obesity)
Every 2 years: Adults with no known medical conditions
More frequently: If you’re monitoring a chronic condition or on long-term medication
Singapore’s national programs (like Screen for Life) also offer subsidised screenings for eligible residents.
Preparing for your health screening is one of the simplest investments you can make in your long term health. A little planning , fasting correctly, adjusting your lifestyle briefly, and bringing the right items , ensures that your results reflect a clear, honest picture of how your body is doing.
Book Your Health Screening at Regis Medical
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