Home blood test kits?

[Dewberry1]

Hey All

Are the home kits for testing thyroid levels at home any good?

Sick of trying to get appt of phone appts to get a blood test form.

It takes forever and by then already feeling very unwell!

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Yes, they are excellent. Both Medichecks and Blue Horizon are recommended, and they use accredited labs, same as the NHS. Some people struggle doing the fingerprick tests, some find it easy. Your GP may not be willing to accept the results of a private test.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Essential to test antibodies and vitamins

See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3

Private tests info

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Link about antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[Dewberry1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks

[MiniMum97]

Yes they are excellent. I have done Medichecks tests at the exact same time as NHS tests and they have come back virtually identical (drawn by the same phlebotomist). So obviously very accurate and reliable.

If you don’t cope with fingerprick testing you can get a normal blood draw. I organise one via my GP. I pay either £20 or nothing if I am having NHS tests done at the same time. Fingerprick testing doesn’t work for me my blood seems to clot too quickly. Which is odd as I’ve had a blood test saying I have a prolonged clotting time!