Reliable way of testing reverse t3 - blood draw... - Thyroid UK
Reliable way of testing reverse t3 - blood drawn or 'finger prick'? which lab is best? Advice, ideas- please help. Thank you for sharing. E
I would think that if it is a reputable lab, it would only offer the test if they believed it to be reliable. I had mine done by Genova on a full blood draw sample.
Thank you Harry E. I don't have any experience with private labs, not at all, so I don't know what to think and where to go. Thankfully I get get some advise here on the forum 
How did you get your blood drawn for Genova test ? I think that the only phlebotomy place for Genova testing is in London. Can't go there, not feasible. Did your GP surgery arranged blood drawing? Did Genova provided you with any kind of kit ? Thanks for advice. E x
They should be CPA accredited, so that will help you tell. Genova send you a kit with needles/bottles etc. I work at a hospital so I got a colleague to do it. Some GPs will do it for a fee, or there is a private phlebotomy service on the main TUK page who will come to you. Blue horizon don't offer rt3 in their finger prick range so maybe you need a full size sample for it. I believe Genova send it to the states for testing.
Ok. Thank you HarryE. Blue horizon offers blood tests ( blood drawn at spire hospital ) but this costs £160, just for a single test, I think that is way too expensive, just for reverse t3 on its own. I shall contact Genova and try to arrange somebody to draw my blood. I doubt my Gp will agree, so I will have to search further. Thank you again for advice. E x
Rt3 is an expensive test, so I think it is more cost effective as part of a panel. The Genova one covered everything and was about £130
I didn't know that they have to send it to America? That's far away for a sample to travel.
They might do it electronically. My report says 'analysis performed by Genova Diagnostics USA'.
I will phone and ask about the USA thing. It would be nice for the sample to stay in UK more fresh for analysis.
I've had private blood tests done. I got the blood drawn by the phlebotomy service at my local NHS hospital. I phoned up first, asked for the phlebotomy department, and told them what I wanted. I also told them I would be providing all the instructions, tubes and kit needed, and they said that would be fine and I would be charged £7.07 which I had to pay on the spot.
It was a Genova test I got the blood drawn for, and all the stuff I needed was sent to me through the post once I ordered - instructions, tubes, needles etc, plus the packaging I needed to send it back to them in the post or via courier.
I've also had private tests done which were ordered from Blue Horizon Medicals. On that occasion the phlebotomy service was included in the price and I had to go to a Spire Hospital for that. Dealing with the blood was also done by them. I just left the blood with them and went home.
Hope this helps.
Thank you Humanbean this helps a lot:)!
By the way, I've had my reverse T3 tested - I ordered the Thyroid Plus package from Genova. I was quite happy with the service.
Thank you Humanbean( love the 'name' by the way, it makes me smile ). I will probably go for this package it has all included, even total t4. Was your sample sent to America too?
E xx
Yes it was. This is why the turn around time they quote is 12 days.
I see. No point then to pay around £160 for single rt3 test with blue horizon, I thought that blue horizon does it locally, but their turn around time is 12 days too, so they probably send it to USA. However there are some blue horizon offers that are good but not rt3.
If you look at the sample report for the Thyroid Plus panel :
gdx.net/uk/core-uk/sample-r...
It mentions that the analysis for the reverse T3 is performed by Genova Diagnostics USA. It definitely implies that the rest of the analysis is performed in the UK.
Thank you Humanbeans
I can see. I I am convinced that it goes abroad now. Nice to have it clarified.
In your opinion: do you think that sending samples overseas does or doesn't diminish accuracy of test results? I mean blood will spend significant time in the fridge etc. - I am wondering.
I'm pretty sure that the blood is processed in some way before it gets sent abroad.
But I have no expertise or knowledge on which to base a sensible answer to your question, sorry. I paid for the test and hoped for the best - there was nothing else I could do.
Sorry, I am back, I went to sleep for a few hours.
I have never done rt3 hence all the questions. Looks like all labs send it abroad. It's good to know. I hope for the best too, I just wondered how do they do it all. I thought that you might know somehow. Thank you so much for your help. Have a nice day/ night. Best wishes to you. E x
Hi edysia2, I have just had a home blood test (finger prick) from blue horizon,I am waiting results, It cost £88 for ft3 ,T4,TSH, I think it's a new test.
