Has anybody used Pulse Health Screening for private blood test? Huge price difference from blue horizon.

[Salphy]

Hi, I've been looking at private intrinsic factor antibodies tests as I'm due to start B12 injections on 27th jan and can't get tested through my GP until after that. Also have a huge phobia of venous blood tests.

I've found 3 private companies that do the test; Medichecks £69 (venous only), Pulse Health Screening £55 (finger prick) and Blue horizon £129.35 (finger prick or self arrange venous or +£35 for phlembotomy at BMI)

I use blue horizon for my thyroid and vitamin tests but there's such a huge price difference has anyone used pulse health screening or know how I would know if they're legit/reliable? At first on blue horizon online chat he said it could only be done via vacutainer due to the amount of blood required but then said his colleague just told him it can be done via finger prick through their London lab.

Pulse Health Screening use CNS labs for their test. camnutri.com/anaemia-p-34.h...

pulsescreening.co.uk/genera...

I've just noticed they state they're a health screening company so can't offer medical advice on abnormal results so to discuss with your own gp but will offer lifestyle advice or further sources of info if appropriate. I'm not too concerned with their advice as would be discussing with my gp anyway. As long as I know the result and ranges. But I guess that could be the reason for the price difference as BH dr's would comment if abnormal? Still seems like a big price difference for that though!

Thanks x

[Foggyme Administrator]

Sorry melissaemily, not familiar with Pulse Health.

But just a point - your GP should do all blood tests before you start your B12 injections.

Supplementing with B12 (in any form) will skew the results of the blood tests and potentially leave you with an undiagnosed B12 deficency.

The exception is anti-IF antibodies - this can be done one week following a B12 injection.

It's worth noting that if you test positive you definately have PA, but a negative result is only 50% accurate - your could still have PA.

And PA is. It the only cause of B12 deficency....

If you have a read of the PAS pinned posts to the right of the page when you log on, it contains lots of useful information about the diagnosis, treatment and guidelines relating to all things PA and B12 deficiency.

Many find them a great help since GP's are not well informed about either condition.

Good luck, and please post again if you need any help or support in the future...or just pop in to let us know how you're doing 👍

[Salphy in reply to Foggyme]

Thanks for your advice Foggy

Unfortunately my surgery can't fit me in until after the b12 injections. Plus she said we can test for it at my next blood test which will be at least 7 weeks from now.

I don't know what she's planning to test. Is there a standard test that the NHS do?

This is why I can't decide if it's worth the £130 to go private for intrinsic factor antibodies test? Especially when none of the tests seem to be very accurate anyway? Does it make a big difference having a diagnosis?

I don't want to get to a point where my b12 levels are good and she stops treatment and I end up back at square one

I guess if i'm going to have the test anyway I'd rather it be done properly before injections to have more of a chance of getting an accurate result.

Thanks for the support x

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Salphy]

Anti-IF antibodies can be done one week after injection. And not a reliable test unless a definite positive. You can test negative and still have PA.

Serum B12, active B12, MMA, Homocysteine - all skewed by B12 injections.

Many Gp's will not accept private blood tests.

Accurate diagnosis often very difficult to get. GP's should treat symptoms, not blood results.

Assuming you have a blood test that shows deficiency and that is why your GP is treating with injections? Is so, this is your diagnosis of deficiency. It's finding the cause that's more difficult - it's usually down to an absorption problem which is not always easy to identify.

So...deficiency could be down to PA - or down to something else.

B12 levels will be very high following injections - as they should be - your GP should not stop your injections because of this. If this happens, post again and we can help with information and guidelines that will help you with this.

Good luck...hope the injections give swift improvement...and apologies if reply seems a little abrupt...not a lot of time at the moment 👍

[Salphy in reply to Foggyme]

Not abrupt at all don't worry

Are Serum B12, active B12, MMA and Homocysteine more reliable?

Yes I've been very lucky that my GP accepted a private blood test done the first week of Jan which showed my B12 as 238 (140-250 insufficient) and this is what she is treating from.

I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, thank you.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Salphy]

MMA best indicator - but again, not after B12 started.

Good that GP has 'evidence' and is treating on that.

As this already evidences deficiency - and your GP has accepted it - not sure what benefit private test will be. MMA a better indicator of B12 deficiency and current research suggests would be better way to assess B12 status. But not always available on NHS - costs more!

Ask GP to test folate levels. B11 and folate work together and if folate levels are too low your body will not be able to utilise B12 properly. Levels should be in top third of the reference range.

You can list blood results and reference ranges in the forum if you want help with interpretation.

Good luck 👍

[Salphy]

Thank you,

Yes my folate was tested and found to be low too 8.31 (8.83-60.8) I have been prescribed folic acid but following advice on here will not start taking until after started b12 injections.

It's not really the deficiency the private test would be for but more the reason as she said we can test for PA at my next blood test. My next blood test will either be when my vit D tablets run out in 7 weeks or my next thyroid test in 12 weeks. My B12 injections start a week on Friday..

I'd rather get it done private before the b12 injections if they are going to skew the results and maybe mean she would stop treatment if it's not confirmed to be PA.

Thanks

[Salphy]

Having read some more posts on here it seems I could have Intrinsic Factor Antibodies regardless if I have PA or not due to having autoimmune thyroid disease. This is so annoying. Seems like nobody actually has a clue about any of these things!