Viapath now doing B12 with MMA test with home kits

[Blackpanther46]

Hi , I thought I’d start a new thread on this. I feel like I’ve learnt so much about all this and with your help I’ve now found out that Viapath do home test kits for

Total B12

Active B12

MMA

Or you go to St Thomas hospital or a private clinic if you prefer .

Is the total B12 the same as serum B12 ?

Also if MMA and the other tests indicate an issue with B12 can you take this to your GP to request treatment if needed ?

Thanks

[Gambit62 Administrator]

total B12 is the same as serum b12.GPs react differently to people doing tests for themselves and many may be suspicious of the accuracy of home kits - in part because they can't be sure that samples have been taken correctly. Likely they may want to do their own tests.

[Blackpanther46]

I guess I could get it done and go from there if it shows anything. I’m trying a different GP now at the surgery to see if she’ll test my serum B12 but can’t speak to her for 2.5 weeks .

I can’t see why they would be suspicious. Blood is blood and I’ve had finger prick ones that are the same as the GP ones for thyroid checks so they must be accurate.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Blackpanther46,

I'll check Viapath's site again but I'm sure the home test kits still require a venous blood draw and are not a fingerprick test.

I explored this option myself a few months ago but didn't order one as I'm not in or near London and don't know anyone that could take the sample for me; so it would mean finding and paying someone to take a blood sample for the test.

Although if you have a helpful gp or practice nurse they could possibly do it for you but that's not so for me.

As I said I'll double check this but I think it is a venous blood sample that's needed.

Best wishes.

[Blackpanther46 in reply to Hedgeree]

Hi Hedgeree , yes I think that was the case but they’ve just introduced a new home test kit pack with finger prick packs recently.

[Frodo in reply to Blackpanther46]

I've just looked at the site and can't see this option - all the info says the tests have to be "drawn by a qualified professional".

[Blackpanther46 in reply to Frodo]

Hi @Frodo on the website you

click on all our tests

Then

My B12

Then

See how it works

Then

Home testing kit

You can read instructions on how to do it here .

When you order it you select that you want a home testing kit .

Hope that helps .

[QUE6T-33 in reply to Blackpanther46]

Haha - I can’t even find all our tests! Just a test index ....

[Hedgeree]

Hi Blackpanther46,

I took this information from the Viapath website;

**************

FAQs

How It Works

1. How does the service work?

A:...........Customers order the tests online and choose whether to have their blood drawn at the Blood Test Centre at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, or receive a postal pack and have blood drawn by a qualified professional in an authorised clinic of their choice.

We also offer a home testing kit for our vitamin D blood test.

For tests that require a venous sample, blood must be drawn by a qualified professional. All blood samples are analysed at the Viapath laboratory in St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

****************

They make a distinction between the postal pack and the home testing kit; when you opt for the postal pack it allows you to choose your own qualified person to do your blood draw but does not include a fingerprick test.

From my understanding and confirmed by the FAQ the home testing kit (which is a fingerprick test) appears to be only offered for the vitamin D test.

I'll email them to confirm but it does appear that the postal pack isn't a fingerprick test but the home testing kit is. It is a bit confusing!

Hope that helps? I just don't want anyone to be disappointed.

Best wishes.

[Blackpanther46 in reply to Hedgeree]

Hi Hedgeree , oh bugger it’s only vit D then !

I think I’ll phone them anyway tomorrow incase you never know .

Thankyou .

[Hedgeree in reply to Blackpanther46]

I think that'll be a good idea ☺ get word from the horses' mouth so to speak as it is slightly confusing.

I'm not sure but I think that the way the MMA sample has to be processed means it can't be done by a fingertip test, though I'm not a scientist and may have that completely wrong!

[QUE6T-33]

Hi Blackpanther a few weeks ago I phoned Viapath to enquire about their Active B12 home test & told they didn’t have one? Are they still doing one does anyone know?