Has anyone tried this? Am I the only one who encountered problems obtaining a sample? I followed all instructions but couldn't obtain the 600 microlitres required. I must have poor circulation to my hands or the lancets didn't penetrate deeply enough.
To give you an idea, 1 ml is about 20 droplets, so you're talking about 12 droplets of blood.
I was using the vit D/calcium test available from Corperformance for £24
I have done the City Assays one and had no probs. it was simply 4 separate drops of blood on a card. 600mls seems an awful lot for a finger prick test - to me anyway!
Gail
That should have been 600 microlitres or 0.6 ml ! Still alot, more than a few drops...
We've used the £25 kit from City Assays in our household. A few drops is all that's required.
Haven't tried the ones that need 600mls, but they do say to warm your hands up and get the circulation going to your fingers beforehand. Perhaps not so easy if thyroid hormone deficiency is inhibiting circulation 
There are lots of things you can do to help.
o.. Have a brisk walk.
o.. Make sure you are warm.
o.. Wash your hands thoroughly in nice hot water.
o.. Shake your arms/hands vigorously.
Actually the test I did for vitamin D only required four DROPS of blood!
Rod
That's some good advice, thankyou. I did wash my hands in warm water before, but it didn't seem to help much. I should exercise vigourously next time, should they send me another test kit. Someone mentioned I had cold hands afterwards, but this is something quite normal and I don't often think much about it.
Yes - soak your arms up to your elbows for a few minutes!
In addition to all the sensible advice give try standing up with hand hanging down, allows blood to flow better into fingers
Thanks, I tried that, but no luck. I think I should have used a knife instead.
Sorry didn't work! I managed to collect required amount of blood quite easily with one finger prick, one lancet. Took longer than I expected so had to wait patiently for each precious drop and then carefully make sure it went into container. maybe you were to eager do you think?
Also perhaps you were anxious and tensed up - which I don't expect would have encouraged blood flow. Hope Corperformance will sent a replacement for you
Could be wrong but I think blood flows better in the evening when circulation generally better. I speak as a fellow poor "circulationer"....Raynaud's and lupus as well as being hypoT
As Jackie says persevere, experiment
Good luck, try, try ,try again...YOU'LL GET THERE!!!
The container was far too small for one thing, I had blood dripping down the sides, but yes I was eager in the end, it wasn't as easy as I thought it'd be...it was really easy to miss the container too. I'll definately have to get my circulation up next time... 
Agree container on the "dainty" side . I've got small hands and fingers but even so had to be careful and some of my precious blood did trickle down the side, NOT easy.
better luck next try!
Have you got your results back yet foxglove? I was thinking of comparing this test to the one I recently had off City Assays (& can't get GP to do my calcium).
Last test I bled really well for a change - maybe because it was a better lancet or because my Vit D was 103, I also aimed for the side of finger tip J 
Haven't got results back yet. I too want to compare with City Assays. Had annual bloods at docs last week but don't know if calcium done. Did asked phlebotomist what tests she was doing but just got the reply "the usual!" - must have got her on an off day, normally quite forthcoming. I see nurse next week for health check so should find out then what bloods done (and results
Will let you know about results from Corperformance when I hear.
Yes, better to use side of fingertip, meant to tell that to AnthonyMs
My daughter who was VitD deficient, also had a recent test - she told me off as the lancet was different and too strong, she says she's not going to do it again as it was really painful (my fault? that's kids for you!).
Yes my phlebotomist always says 'lots of tests' even 'tho the last one only produced a TSH result!
Please post your result as I'm really interested to compare too. Oh and I did the washing up first (it was a lot!) which may have contributed to the excessive blood flow! (first test last year I could hardly squeeze any out either) J x
Will post results gladly. Hope I get them soon! I always think I've done something wrong when I've posted off and may mean have to re-do!
Loved the idea of doing the washing up helping blood flow. Perhaps a suggestion for male " reluctant bleeders "to try?
lol!
I used to have white fingers (Raynauds?) after driving home from my old job, and washing up was the cure! x
Got results but no comparison with last years City Assays vit d.- my vitd seems to have dropped beyond what is believable. going to fork out for another test from City Assays to satisfy myself as doc. wont play ball on vit.d test Calcium normal but doesn't say if corrected serum level so not much use really.
All in all I'm disappointed and wouldn't recommend
Hi Unless a condition "stick blood" should be OK, If you have a glass of water about 1 hour before. Then run the hands under hot water, then test.You always need to be well hydrated for any blood test, venous too.
Best wishes,
Jackie
Hi, thanks. Yes I had about 3 glasses of water (I didn't feel hydrated otherwise), but they say blood's thicker than water. I wonder if I'll get my money back?
Hi I know with Blue Horizon if no good then they will refund or exchange. Try a different time of day, blood does vary. I have sticky blood so well acquainted with difficulties, 2 venous bloods a week at least and 5 finger prick a day!
make sure leaving enough time after having the water. persevere experiment. I hope that helps
Jackie.
Thanks, you always have really good advice concerning blood tests. I think my blood tends to clot easily, I was stood there for an hour pricking my fingers with a diabetic's needle shooter as a Plan B, but could only manage a few measly drops. I'd definately advice anyone else to steer clear of this test.
Hi Years of blood tests! Blue horizon do a much better test for £55. Actually the only one some of my consultants like. venous blood, but it is expensive. probably on their main site. You need to quote TUK10 for the £10 discount.Otherwise, nag the GP, so important.
Best wishes,
Jackie
Just a thought if so dehydrated, make sure U`s and E`s are OK ( kidney function) and sodium only at the bottom of range. Also take very little at. The test does not show the intake of salt but in the blood, quite different. Dehydration can cause very low BP, too low, although not treated in the UK, Dizziness etc.
Jackie
Not sure what you meant by U's and E's...if sodium is at the bottom of the range then I must be hydrated if I understand correctly...I wouldn't be able to know that beforehand though. I tend to have low BP naturally, that definately could be affecting things, I should definately try to raise my BP artificially..or maybe someone else can do that for me. You always have great advise thanks..
Hi I did put U`s and E`s are kidney function. It sounds to me like you are badly dehydrated.. low BP is not considered to matter. However,if the U`s and E`s are much out, then it is effecting your kidneys. This will show in very low BP, below 100 systolic causes lots of symptoms but still not treated. In that case you need to take a little salt as it does help, not for cooking ,just at the table.A lot of drugs ( not thyroid) can cause low BP, that is a separate issue. If low BP it just can be your kidney`s not working very well. if Potassium goes up to 5 , ( any Lab) then you need to be aware, and drink a lot of water, or acute failure and rehydrated on a drip. IV.. If not caught in time , then coma and often death This is not likely but obviously you do not want to get any where near that situation. You say you drink plenty, I assume you are not on diuretics? By drinking plenty usually expected to be a glass every hour during the day.One of the U`s and E`s result is called GFR, this does not have a range, as such, but good over 60, needs looking at if below 45, 25 usually acute renal failure.It would be worth taking your BP and heart rate ( pulse) for a little while 3 times a day. Low BP can be low HR, which can sometimes be serious.Keep a record. The tested BP arm machines, not wrist are good, the ones that also measure HR are not tested and not any good. for HR. Just take your pulse, easy with practice and very important.Neck the easiest. Always use fingers and not thumb, ( contains an extra pulse). You are hoping over 60 beats a minute but 50 acceptable, lower is not. and needs investigations. Rest 10 mins first, Arm for BP straight on a table, right hight., no talking or moving! Chart.If BP goes up during the day, that is normal. It should not do the reverse unless an organic reason.
It is very important to have a diabetes test, especially if also very , very tired The best tests are Hb1Ac and Glucose, but the first one is best, Glucose if possible,You need to rule out everything, Also make sure your iron/ferritin , B12 ad Foliates and importantly vit D are all OK. If D low, corrected calcium test before any treatment. Low BP is not taken seriously in the UK, it can be due to things that do matter, or cause problems with other health issues.
I hope that is clear, or get back to me.
Jackie
I tried all the recommended things, in the end I disassembled the lancet and stabbed myself really hard with it in the side of the finger. I have quite insenstiive finger ends (fiddle playing, wreath making, sewing, gardening etc) and the lancets just didn't cut it (literally). Next time I'll use scissors or a scalpel. I bleed quite easily if I cut myself by accident - even a paper cut!
I never thought about doing that! I do play guitar but I don't think it had anything to do with that. Sorry to hear someone else had trouble with this test. Did you manage to get the sample?
Yes, I got the sample after much stabbing. Then the problem was not to get too much blood on the card!
They'll send me another kit, I think i'll do what you did next time (don't try this at home) it's the only assurable method of getting a sample.
Well, finally got a sample on the second attempt, but it was by no means easy to obtain. I followed all the advice here, doing 20 mins of exercise, immersing my hands in warm water for 5 mins and I used the sides of the fingertips rather than the middle part. However, I had to something quite drastic, I disassembled one of the lancets in case I needed to make more finger pricks and it was a good job I did as I must have used every side of every finger in order to fill the 600 uL sample. I'm not squemish but most probably wouldn't have felt comfortable doing what I had to do, butchering my fingers, how others have managed, I don't understand. It took me about an hour to get a sample and I wouldn't be suprised if it can't be processed by the lab because it must have dried out considerably in that time having been open and exposed to the air.
Anyway, I'll await the result but probably wouldn't trust it...I should have tried the simple City Assays blood smear.
The results are in, it's official..i'm Vit D deficient, I have a level of 37 ng/ml which falls under deficiency according to the Vit D council (0-39 ng/ml)
vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...
Corperformance are calling my levels 'sufficient', however recommended optimal levels are between 50-70 ng/ml and this is something I need to aim for. I had been taking 1000 IU/day of D3 for the past 30 days so who knows what my levels must be like in winter/whilst not taking supplements. From what I've read on medscape, taking 1000 IU D3/day for 2-3 months has the effect of raising Vit D levels by 10 ng/ml, so my nominal result must have been more like 27 ng/ml.
medscape.com/viewarticle/58...
Corperformance are recommending I take 1000 IU D3/day to "maintain your healthy blood levels". Well I certainly need to be taking more than that! I'll need 3000-5000 IU D3/day to acheive the optimal 50-70 ng/ml. I'll be taking 5000 IU D3/day and retest my levels in 3 months time.
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