blood test whilst with a cold?

[Cfmad298601]

due for a blood test later today, which I would normally have before my Rheumy visit (scheduled for next week)

Come down with a blooming cold, started a few days ago - I’ve been reasonably lucky to have by passed most doing the rounds of our office 😬 - just done a COVID test to make sure and it’s come back as negative.

is it ok to have the blood test with a cold, or is it likely to mess with the results, making it pointless?

Should I also continue with the planned Rheumy visit, a week away,, or should I reschedule - even though it’s not COVID, I don’t want to be spreading germs around a busy waiting room etc ?

[SnazzyD]

It might make inflammatory markers higher.

Covid can avoid detection from lateral flow tests, especially with the newer variants. Recently it took my husband ‘with a cold’ 7 days to test positive and 5 for daughter 1. My daughter 2 and I had the same but very mild symptoms and tested negative. We had all been on holiday together and to all in intents and purposes it was a nasty cold. A month later my normally healthy husband and I are still having problems so it may still act like a cold but seems to have tentacles that reach further than a cold.

If it were me with an appointment a week away, I’d wear an FFP3 mask and go unless their policy says you shouldn’t.

[Cfmad298601 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks, I just had the results of my tests done yesterday, both CRP & ESR are raised, but only by a minimal amount.

Tbh, most of the cold symptoms are very much improved already, only started last Monday or so………usually I go through various phases, lasting 10-14 days, so happy if the worst is over already 👍

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Lot of discussion recently about the unreliability of LFTs for Covid - a single negative test is far from conclusive.

A blood test now, even if it is only a cold, is likely to show raised markers because of the infection so not really conclusive for the PMR/GCA.

[Dochaz]

I had raised markers recently when bloods were done a day or 2 after suffering from some sort of food poisoning or maybe a tummy bug, never really needed treatment, it sorted itself out. The next time round things were back to normal again. Within normal range, that is, though slightly higher than base line before this all began. Symptoms minimal but not completely absent. I'm tapering slowly but surely!

[CricketMonkey]

… and even wearing a mask, the surgery may not thank you for attending with a cold. Personally, I’d reschedule.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CricketMonkey]

Surely the idea of a GP practice is to see unwell patients - not after they have recovered?

[CricketMonkey in reply to PMRpro]

True, but for a blood test I’d wait. Seeing the doctor themselves for a non-routine matter I agree would be different.

[Cfmad298601 in reply to CricketMonkey]

I called them about an hour before the appt, said I had a cold for a few days but that I’d just had a negative COVID test result. She said no problem, just come in as expected. When i was called in by the nurse I started to put on my mask, and explained I’d got a cold, but she just said oh don’t worry, not to bother.

I’d always check first, only common sense….