Is there a best time of day to do blood tests?

[Alex97]

I have jusy ordered thyroid blood tests from blue horizon to do at home. Just wondering if there is a best time of day to do them. I know this may sound awful but I want tests to be at their worst so to speak as my gp is refusing to re run tsh and ft4 I had done 15 months ago and said there was no point as they wouldn't have changed in this time. Would be grateful for some help on this

[LouiseRoberts]

early morning.. x

If you are on thyroid meds, don't take it until after your test..

L

x

[Alex97]

Thanks. I m not on any medication

[shaws Administrator in reply to Alex97]

Have your test as early as possible as that's when the TSH is highest. I am not sure about the others. You could phone Blue Horizon just to double check with them.

[lunamoona]

I've recently done this. My NHS bloods at the beginning of Feb at 9.00am were TSH 3.8 (0.27-4.2). Did my BH test at 3.45am and my TSH went to 7.08 (0.27-4.2). Just have a 3 week wait to see my GP now.

Good luck with the test, it's easier than it sounds

[Alex97 in reply to lunamoona]

Thanks for reply. So your tsh was higher in the afternoon?..my gp doesn t think it would alter in 15 months. Last tests feb 2013 tsh 1.5 (0.28-5) and ft4 13.5 (12-19).

[lunamoona in reply to Alex97]

No, BH test was done at 3.45am (in the morning). Bit of a drag but worth it.

[Alex97 in reply to lunamoona]

Ah! Sorry, didn't read it properly. I will give this a try. I m usually awake anyway

[Muffy]

Draw blood as early as possible in the day.

[sheenah]

Did mine at 5am - nearly 2 points above - went from 3.14 (blood taken at 4.50PM) to 5.07 taken at 5AM - well worth the effort. Nobody teaches Docs about Body Clocks!!! XX Good Luck - if you can't get the blood out, stand up.

[ann_g_k]

Yes - as everyone says, get them done as early as poss. I have a conundrum:

I'll soon be having two TSH tests, one ordered by endo and the other ordered by GP and each going to a different lab.

What's the possibility of getting a private phlebotomist drawing bloods as early as poss (well before the hospital phlebotomy depts are open) in response to NHS request? Not sure it's viable but I could ask. I'd be interested to see the difference between the two readings from the different labs.