Where can I get blood sugar, HbA1c and cholesterol tests in Vasco?
Medically reviewed by our consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (MBBS, MS OBG). Last reviewed: 2 November 2026.
The Pai Hospital Laboratory, on the ground floor inside Pai Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco-da-Gama, is open 24 hours, every day. Fasting, post-meal and random blood sugar and the lipid (cholesterol) profile are done in-house. HbA1c is also available at the laboratory; some samples are sent to a partner laboratory and take longer. Call or WhatsApp the laboratory before you come.
Which sugar and cholesterol tests are done at the laboratory?
The laboratory (pathology lab) at Pai Hospital uses automated analysers. These tests are done in-house, inside the hospital:
- Fasting blood sugar. Blood sugar after a night without food.
- Post-meal (PP) blood sugar. Blood sugar at a set time after a meal.
- Random blood sugar. Blood sugar at any time of day or night.
- Lipid profile (cholesterol test). Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Kidney and liver function, and urine routine. The doctor often asks for these along with the sugar and cholesterol tests.
HbA1c is available at the laboratory; some samples are sent to a partner laboratory and take longer. The laboratory will tell you when to expect the report.
For the full list of tests and the laboratory's hours, see the Pai Hospital Laboratory in Vasco.
What is the difference between fasting, post-meal and random blood sugar?
All three measure the sugar (glucose) in your blood at the moment the sample is taken. They differ only in when the sample is taken:
- Fasting sugar is taken after a night without food, usually early in the morning. It shows your sugar level when you have not eaten.
- Post-meal sugar, also called PP or post-prandial sugar, is taken at a set time after a meal, usually about two hours. It shows how your body handles the sugar from food. The laboratory will tell you when to start counting the time and when to give the sample.
- Random sugar is taken at any time, whatever you last ate. It is useful when the doctor needs a quick answer, for example in an emergency or before an operation.
The doctor decides which of these you need. Often the fasting and post-meal samples are taken on the same morning: one before breakfast, one after.
What does an HbA1c test show?
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Sugar in the blood slowly attaches to haemoglobin in the red blood cells, and HbA1c measures how much has attached. So it is not changed much by what you ate that morning.
A single sugar test shows one moment; HbA1c shows the longer picture. The doctor uses HbA1c together with your sugar tests, your symptoms and your examination. Some conditions that change the red blood cells, such as anaemia or recent blood loss, can affect the HbA1c value, so tell the doctor about them.
HbA1c usually does not need fasting.
What does a lipid profile (cholesterol test) show?
A lipid profile measures the fats in your blood. It usually includes:
- Total cholesterol. All the cholesterol in the blood.
- HDL cholesterol. Often called the "good" cholesterol.
- LDL cholesterol. Often called the "bad" cholesterol.
- Triglycerides. Another type of fat in the blood, which changes a lot with a recent meal.
Cholesterol is read together with your age, blood pressure, sugar, weight, smoking and family history. The same value can mean different things for two different people, so the treating doctor explains what your numbers mean for you.
Do I need to fast for sugar and cholesterol tests?
- Fasting blood sugar: yes, usually 8 to 12 hours without food.
- Lipid profile: usually yes, 8 to 12 hours without food. Some doctors accept a non-fasting sample; follow what you are told.
- Post-meal sugar: you eat a normal meal and give the sample at the time you are told.
- Random sugar and HbA1c: usually no fasting.
Plain water is allowed. If you take tablets or insulin for diabetes, ask the doctor before you fast, because skipping food on these medicines can make your sugar drop too low. For what to eat and drink before a test and which medicines to take, read blood test preparation and reports.
Is a glucometer reading the same as a laboratory sugar test?
Not exactly. A home glucometer uses a drop of blood from the finger and is meant for day-to-day checks at home. A laboratory test uses a blood sample from a vein. The two readings can differ a little. Keep a note of your home readings and bring it to your visit, but your doctor may ask for a laboratory test before making a decision about your treatment.
Is blood sugar checked in pregnancy?
Yes. Blood sugar is usually checked at the first antenatal visit. Pregnancy changes how the body handles sugar, so the doctor may ask for a sugar test again later in pregnancy, sometimes as a test where you drink a measured sugar drink and blood samples are taken afterwards. The doctor will tell you when and how to come for it, and whether you need to fast.
Sugar values in pregnancy are read differently from values outside pregnancy, so let your doctor explain your report. Read about the first antenatal visit and high-risk pregnancy.
Women with PCOS are also often asked for sugar tests, because PCOS is linked with how the body handles sugar. See PCOS and fertility.
How does the laboratory check its results?
Sugar and cholesterol tests run on automated analysers. Every day, before patient reports are released, the laboratory runs quality-control samples with known values to check that each analyser is reading correctly.
How soon are the reports ready?
Most routine reports, including blood sugar and the lipid profile, are usually ready within hours. HbA1c samples that are sent to a partner laboratory take longer; the laboratory will tell you when to expect them.
What are the normal values?
The reference ranges are printed on your report. Ranges can differ between laboratories and methods, and the doctor may use different targets for you, for example in pregnancy or if you already take medicine. So compare your value with the range on the same report, and bring your old reports so the doctor can see the trend.
Who explains my sugar and cholesterol report?
Your report is explained by the treating doctor. A value is read together with your symptoms, your examination and your other results. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine based on the report alone. If you are a patient of the hospital, the Pai Hospital Team goes through the report with you at your visit. See gynaecologist in Vasco.
Where is the laboratory?
The laboratory is on the ground floor, inside Pai Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, and it is open 24 hours, every day. Bring the doctor's prescription or the list of tests, and any old reports. Directions are on our contact page. See all our services in Goa. Written and reviewed by the Pai Hospital Team.
Can I get a blood sugar test in Vasco at night?
Yes. The Pai Hospital Laboratory, on the ground floor inside Pai Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco-da-Gama, is open 24 hours, every day. A random blood sugar can be done at any hour. Call or WhatsApp the laboratory to check your test and its preparation before you come.
What is the difference between fasting, post-meal and random sugar?
A fasting sugar is taken after a night without food. A post-meal (PP) sugar is taken at a set time after a meal, usually about two hours. A random sugar is taken at any time, whatever you last ate. The doctor chooses which one you need.
Do I need to fast for an HbA1c test?
Usually not. HbA1c reflects your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, so a meal on the day makes little difference. If a fasting sugar or lipid profile is ordered with it, give all the samples together on an empty stomach.
Is HbA1c done in the hospital laboratory?
HbA1c is available at the Pai Hospital Laboratory. Some samples are sent to a partner laboratory and take longer. The laboratory will tell you when to expect your report.
Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Usually yes. A lipid profile is usually done after 8 to 12 hours without food, with plain water allowed. Some doctors accept a non-fasting sample, so follow what you are told.
Is my glucometer reading the same as a laboratory sugar test?
Not exactly. A home glucometer uses a drop of blood from the finger and is meant for day-to-day checks. A laboratory test uses a blood sample from a vein. Your doctor may ask for a laboratory test before making a decision about your treatment.
Is blood sugar checked in pregnancy?
Yes. Blood sugar is usually checked at the first antenatal visit, and the doctor may ask for a sugar test again later in pregnancy, sometimes as a test with a measured sugar drink. The doctor will tell you when and how to come for it.
What are the normal values for sugar, HbA1c and cholesterol?
The reference ranges are printed on your report. Ranges can differ between laboratories, and the doctor may use different targets for you, for example in pregnancy. Your treating doctor explains what your values mean for you.
Should I change my diabetes or cholesterol medicine after seeing my report?
No. Do not start, stop or change any medicine based on the report alone. Your treating doctor reads it together with your symptoms, your examination and your other results, and decides what to do.
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This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.