How many tubes are typically drawn for a 3-hour glucose test?

In a standard 3-hour glucose tolerance test, typically four blood samples are collected at specific intervals. This procedure begins with an initial fasting blood sample to establish a baseline glucose level. After this initial sample, the patient consumes a glucose solution, and blood draws are performed at the 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour marks following the ingestion of the glucose dose. Each of these samples is vital for assessing how the body processes glucose over time and helps to diagnose conditions like diabetes or insulin resistance. Collecting four samples allows for comprehensive tracking of blood glucose fluctuations throughout the designated testing period.