My curiosity got the better of me and I sent for a testing for all covid antibody test. (Probably wasted my money I expect!). Well I set about doing the blood sample and as I was setting it all up ready I gauged a piece out of my thumb on the ‘safety packaging’. Unfortunately they are very specific about where the blood to be tested comes from so I didn’t dare just use my thumb. It has to be the ring finger of your non dominant hand. So I got the lancet thingy out and punctured my finger and the blood just flowed on and on. I didn’t need to do any of the massaging they talk about. I just merrily dripped into the test tube. By this time my other hand is covered in blood from my thumb and the kitchen resembles a murder scene!! At the end of all this carnage I read that the kit was not appropriate for people with bleeding disorders😲. I guess I found out why!!!
It is a good thing I have a sense of humour and of the rediculous! I also didn’t know there was such a thing as a priority post box (I’ve been shielding so forgive me!) but I found one and my sample is winging its way to the lab - I hope! I will post my results if/when I get them
Stay safe and keep laughing everyone! Xx
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beetle
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Ha! You made me laugh too, but sorry you had such a bloody time! I have to go through a set regime to get enough blood to fill one of those little sample pots, which involves drinking a pint of water then jogging about my bedroom for 10 mins after which I soak my hand in hot water while continuing to jog on the spot for a few more minutes then I'm good to go. Quite a palaver but worth it. I too did a Covid Vaccine immunity test which, I am pleased to say, came back positive with a level of >250 U/ml. Hope you get a good result too.All the Best,
It looks as though a “simple” test might not be so for such as us! I’m glad you got a positive result. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for mine. I wondered if there might be a chance I might get a few antibodies in the transfusions I get every three weeks but having phoned the transfusion people at the hospital they say no. Hey ho! Xx
I may be talking rubbish here, but, I think, antibodies are a type of white blood cell which are, as such, removed from the blood to be transfused. This reduces the risk of allergic reactions. We need Hunter to give us a proper scientific answer! I will keep my fingers crossed for you too.
I agree about the white cells but they give plasma with antibodies from covid recoverers to treat covid patients and the red cells come in liquid so I hoped it might be plasma carrying antibodies. You have to live in hope don’t you😏😂
Used to work for the blood transfusion service, years and years ago - they separate it out to be used separately - White cells - can't remember what for
red cells - transfusions
Platelets - transfusions for specific conditions, I remember sickle cell being one
Plasma - burn victims, healing needs, can be together with red cells for transfusions too, for other needs, including high blood loss victims
Not an expert answer, and it was years ago, there will be more uses I don't remember or never knew about x
Thank you. I think I was hoping there might be a few sneaky antibodies in the plasma with the red cells I get each 3 weeks. I spoke to a nice man in the blood transfusion lab at the hospital and he said a straight no!
White blood cells are killer soldiers that are produced to kill all kinds of intruders that get into our bodies through one of many pathways and try to make us sick! They are a good thing, our so to say, the first line of defence after our saliva, gastric juices, skin, tonsils, cilia in our ears and nose, lashes and tears! 😂
Sorry you had such a hard time filling your sample tubes. I know what it is like as I used to have great difficulty too. The mini aspirin that I have to take each day helps too.
A priority post box sign appeared on ours some time during the first lockdown. When we asked our delightful postman about it he laughed in a hollow fashion and said 'don't believe everything you read' so we're none the wiser about them! Diana
🤦♀️ I did mine last week with the ONS, Oxford University /Government and the chap that came to give us our covid tests to do as well, said don't use your thumb and little finger, did all the correct things like warming hands with a good wash,, and drinking lots more water, then proceeded to use lancet which was fine, expected blood to pump out did it heck!!! Any other time like you if I cut myself boy do I bleed, not this time, half an hour later and a lot of massaging of hands and fingers and two lancets later got only five ml out, I only hoped it worked, he seemed to think it will be fine, think he was fed up with waiting, my husband was fine his flowed freely, Think I might be good at milking a cow thats what it felt like, plus I had two very bruised and sore fingers, but its for a good cause to see if I have any antibodies.💉😤😂 so I had a little chuckle at your experience.
Hi Jan, , im sorry but meanly i laughed out loud 😂 at your misfortune but at least you got enough of the red stuff to cover the sample Well well if you get what I mean. My eyesight is a bit dodgy close to and my first drip missed the ruddy Well it was supposed to go into. Then my finger decided that was it and shut shop so had to ping another which hit the target. To cap it all that wouldn't stop bleeding for 7 or 8 minutes. . I did think why do I bother . . Hope you get a result for all your erstwhile efforts. . .
Wow Beetle, Dracula would love you!Doing some for UCH and then imperial college asked, so doing that too. First time for UCH, I had to use two different fingers to fill the small bottle to the right level (they give you three lancets so you can bruise three fingers if necessary ) and it was slow. Better the second time with that one, just one finger was enough. Imperial only need a single blob that falls onto a plastic contraption to create a reading, so that was easy.
End result of all three tests confirm that I haven’t had covid but I have had the jab.
Hi I was the same blood all over the bathroom but got my results quiet rapid they came back at 1334 U/ml which worked out at 53% protection Not the 97% the government say healthy person receives after both jabs
Hi Beetle,Your description of taking the antibody test and the scene you evoked really made me laugh this morning! 😂 Poor you! Well at least it sounds as if they’ll have a large enough sample to work on! I ‘m not surprised your curiosity got the better of you and hopefully you will get a good result. It’s quite unsettling for MPN ers like us when people say - ‘You’re safe now you’ve had the vaccine’ and we really don’t know for sure. However, having read your and others’ accounts of taking the antibody test I think I’ll wait for the research to come through!😂 Look forward to hearing your results. Take care! Ettiel 😄
So funny to have just read this as I just completed one of the home test kits to see if I have Lyme disease. Went through the same process (minus the sacrificial thumb part) but was milking my arm and my hand as (even though I emerged from a hot bath) my blood refused to flow. Had to stick myself twice! Once done my glasses kept steaming up (since still in hot steamy bathroom) and drops of blood were falling everywhere except in the collection tube.Yes indeed, one HAS to laugh🤣😂🤣
I’ve just seen your post now and have to say it gave me a good laugh which we all need. Sorry it’s at your expense though! Hope you have really good result and look forward to your post. Fran
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