You can test cholesterol anytime, but it will be higher if you have eaten recently, that's what the paper meant.
For inpatients, the most we can usually get them to wait is 6 hours. In clinic, we tell people 8 hours (no food after midnight). You can have water or black tea or coffee. Anything with any fat (like MILK) will change your test results. If you are having a fasting blood sugar tested as well, then no sugar in your coffee/tea either. Fasting for 12 hrs sounds like over-kill.
For inpatients, the most we can usually get them to wait is 6 hours. In clinic, we tell people 8 hours (no food after midnight). You can have water or black tea or coffee. Anything with any fat (like MILK) will change your test results. If you are having a fasting blood sugar tested as well, then no sugar in your coffee/tea either. Fasting for 12 hrs sounds like over-kill.