My work has given me a free "thriva" blood test to take (for vitamin d), however my attempt at filling the small vial was messy and the lab rejected the little I did produce.
Is there any reason I couldn't just ask a nurse friend of mine to extract it from my arm with a disposable hypodermic instead?
Hi there, I can think of many many reasons why you shouldn't stick a needle into your body without the help of a trained professional in a sterile environment! With regard to getting a reliable blood test to see if you are Vitamin D deficient this is ideally done by your surgery. Vit D is quite complex and takes quite a bit of processing and I wouldn't trust any result that came from a finger prick test.
If you think you are deficient and/or a blood test confirmed this then your GP or Consultant will just recommend that you go and buy Vitamin D in whatever format from the supermarket, pharmacy or wherever that ensures that you get 100% of the recommended daily intake. Here is the NHS information on Vitamin D and how to get it.
nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...
Hope that helps
I can’t get blood out for finger prick either - tried this a few times for Covid antibody immunity tests to no success but they kept sending replacement tests so eventually got non squeamish friend to help. Think it’s my Raynaud’s/ scleroderma as circulation in hands so bad.
Wouldn’t want to do this for vit D though for reasons LucyJean outlines. But did have had this done many years ago privately when a GP refused. A nurse took the blood screen in private clinic for Coeliac, B12 and Vit D. The lab dr then phoned me to report very low level Vit D so my GP agreed to prescribe AdCal D3. Joint pain eased and low mood improved. This was many years ago - now prescribed fultium D3 instead and rheumatologist arranged a Dexa last year and confirmed osteopenia.
FOLLOW UP TO HELPING HAND
Flaky nails and rough hands
Pins and Needles in hand
hand or grip disabilities
Skin peeling hands. Is this a consequence of Raynaud's?
