Routine Vitamin Checks Petition

[lesbud1]

Change.org

A Full Blood Count should include Vitamins.

please check it out and sign and share if you agree.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Do you have a link?

[lesbud1 in reply to clivealive]

chng.it/TSjkc829f9

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to lesbud1]

Shared on Facebook

[fbirder]

I cannot find it.

I did find an old (expired) one asking for a B12 test to be included as part of a FBC.

[lesbud1 in reply to fbirder]

sorry

chng.it/WjwbVJSc

Hi fbirder I have found out that I am also deficient in Vit D after paying for private tests.

[jamjar67]

Signed

[Syuri]

Signed and shared.

[jonnylongton]

Signed and shared

[Janma123]

Signed and shared.

[Sunshine1932]

Signed and shared

[FlipperTD]

I understand your viewpoint but technically this is a non-starter for several reasons. A 'Full Blood Count' is a test performed on a whole-blood anticoagulated sample, and the test takes literally seconds to perform. B12 is measured on a serum sample, which requires a different blood sample entirely and the cycle time is considerably longer. If a laboratory gets a test request but doesn't get the correct samples, you're never going to get all the result you expect. Sorry!

[lesbud1 in reply to FlipperTD]

the lab will do the tests that the GP requests. If they request vitamin tests as well as fbc then that is what they will do.

[FlipperTD in reply to lesbud1]

You're absolutely right, but that only applies if the right samples are sent. When a request is sent in, then there needs to be enough sample sent, of sufficient quality. It also needs to be the correct sample type, or it simply isn't possible however much we'd like to do the work. For an FBC, it needs to be an EDTA anticoagulated sample, and for B12 and folate it usually needs to be a serum [clotted] sample, although other types may be acceptable depending on the method, but it can't be done on an EDTA whole blood sample. I hope this clarifies it! Cheers.

[lesbud1 in reply to FlipperTD]

I am not suggesting that it is tested from the same vial. I am arguing that patients think a full blood count means more than it does and that as there are thousands of people being misdiagnosed when a simple blood test could show they have a deficiency. I want vitamins to be tested routinely when people go to see their GPs.

[FlipperTD in reply to lesbud1]

Your point is well made.

However, I think the problem rests more with the folks doing the test requesting, rather than the patients having the tests performed. The argument of cost versus benefit will always rear its head when a 'full blood count' costs pennies, and seconds, to perform but vitamin assays are likely to cost pounds and will take much longer. Good luck!

[lucylocks]

Signed and shared.