Have had enough and am taking the plunge with a Blue Horizon test....

[MiniMum97]

I believe the one to get is the Thyroid plus eleven? Is it the pinprick version that people generally use? Is it is accurate as the vacutainer tests?

Many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Yes MiniMum97 , Thyroid Plus Eleven covers all thyroid tests plus all important vitamins and minerals. The fingerprick test is fine and Blue Horizon uses accredited labs (or is an accredited lab).

Do it early in the morning, before 9am, 7-8am would be good. Leave breakfast and any drinks other than water until after you've done the test. A good idea is to warm your hand in a bowl of very warm water for a few minutes beforehand.

[Redditch]

Make sure you mail your bloods that day, any mucking about can make the tests less accurate.

[janiebell]

I found It was impossible to get enough blood with the pin prick test. I even dashed down to my surgery and a very helpful nurse tried too but to no avail. My surgery are very happy to draw the blood for me and Blue Horizon provide everything that they need, even a plaster. Either way make sure you send your bloods back on wednesday or before to ensure they arrive at the lab before friday. They will test on Friday but obviously not over the weekend and you dont want your blood sitting around until monday morning.

[MiniMum97]

Thanks everyone.

[shaws Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

Make sure you are well hydrated by frequent drinking of water the day before.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You can order the vacutainer test, pay an extra £35 and this enables you to go to a local BMI hospital to get blood drawn......if your local GP surgery won't oblige

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/e...

[StillStriving]

I had the prick test. Spot on results vs later full blood tests, very quick. I was very impressed.

I'm very difficult to get blood from. The kit had 3 lancets and excellent instructions, all of which I had to use. It took me far less time and effort than in the alternative of having blood taken at my GP surgery or BMI hospital.

[MrsJim]

Hi Hun I'm sure someone has answered this but it's the vacutainer intravenous blood test like when you had your blood taken by the doctors/hospital.

I'd recommend asking your GP if your surgerys nurse can donthe blood draw for you as they're usually cheaper or look online for visiting phlebotomists as some will come to your home and are cheaper than the private hospitals.

The thyroid 11 is very quick and efficient, I had one done a couple of months ago and was very impressed with the speed etc.

Good luck hun

[morgan2014]

Found all this info very helpful as l hope to do this test very shortly. Do l need to leave off my NDT before commencing the test. Thanks

[clare10]

Hi having recently done the thyroid 11 plus blood test using the finger prick test all i can say is that for me it was accurate, it also gave me the answer i was looking for. I was very low in B12 and have now started treatment.

[glamrocks4girls]

When I did a Blue Horizon blood test (I was very impressed with the service), I phoned the help desk before ordering as I was slightly bemused by the thought of the pin prick test - would I be able to get enough blood? She told me that some people are unable to produce the required amount (sorry I can't remember exactly what the criterion was - something like if when you cut yourself does your blood stop quickly) and as I fitted into this category I went to my GP's phlebotomist and they were fine about taking it. If in doubt ring Blue Horizon and check. If you order on the internet you will get the result back the next day btw!