Blood won't flow for test

[suebob59]

Anyone else have trouble keeping blood flowing for blue horizon home test??

I've just unsuccessfully tried to fill the small tube, used all the lancets, get about two drips and it clots and won't flow again.

Blue horizon are going to send another kit to have another go.

I phoned my GP to ask if I could arrange a normal blood test with the phlebotomist on site if I supplied everything to then send back to blue horizon. They said they will NOT allow this.

Has anyone else experienced this from their GP surgery.

Sorry for the rant!!

[Allem]

It's funny that I did it yesterday for the first time. I had the same issue.

I was trying the first thing in the morning that could be a reason. I pricked my fingers five times to fill half the tube. I flowed hot water on my hand, did some exercise to increase the blood flow, finally sat on a sofa and hanged my hand down and I still had to squeeze every drop out.

My kids were horrified

[suebob59 in reply to Allem]

Hi Allen, hope you finally got enough to test😀

Hopefully I'll have more luck with the new kit that they will send me. Otherwise it'll be another £30 for private blood draw.

[ShinyB]

My friend did mine - she does them at the hospital she works at. She said the secret is to stroke the blood out. I was firmly looking the other way as I am a total wuss but it did feel like she was very gently stroking the skin in the direction of where she'd stabbed me, I mean, where she'd gently pierced my skin......

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I've done one this morning. Which lancet did you get sent? My test was ordered a few months ago and I had one of the light blue and white lancets which has a blade like the one on the left in this picture healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

Apparently they now supply a different one like the one on the right and some people are finding the new one not so good.

I have a bowl of hot water to hand and swish my hand about until it goes red. I also stand on a small stool so I can keep my arm straight when collecting the blood. I managed to fill 2 microtainers, first one very quickly as the blood was flowing well and forming drops which fell easily into the tube, the second took a little longer as flow eventually slowed down so I gently milked my finger to get enough out.

My surgery won't draw blood for these private tests, and I rang the phlebotomy department t at our hospital and they would only do it if the GP requests it (even though I offered to pay).

[suebob59 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I had the newer ones with small blade. Perhaps I'll have more sucess with the next ones in the post.

Or I'll open a can of corned beef😲

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to suebob59]

Maybe contact Blue Horizon and ask for the old type lancet to be included in your new kit, I think it's the BD Blue you have to ask for.

Whatever you do, don't squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it damages the blood, gently "milking" it is fine, but not squeezing.

[Helena877]

ShinyB - I was successful the first time only . Since then I’ve had a friend literally squeeze the blood out in a downward stroke similar to how your friend describes.

This method hurts a lot less than repeated pricking of different fingers and the ensuing frustration.

Followed all the guidelines on the pack and online and I’m lucky to get one big drop before it stops. I’d these haven’t worked for you then I’d try the aboce

[Clarrisa]

Hydrate yourself well the day before so you don't need to milk your finger. Keep your arm & shoulder warmed too. Stress will construct your flow. Play nice music! If you know a diabetic (I'm not) who checks their blood sugars regularly, ask them for advice they become pros. They may be well versed on lancets.

[ShinyB]

ugh, I feel faint just reading the replies! Lightweight isn't the word.... lol.

[Clarrisa in reply to ShinyB]

Maintain a reclining position when you lance your finger. Have plenty of ice water nearby to drink & some ice packs to place on your forehead & chest if you feel faint. Elevate your feet/legs if you do & start drinking lots & lots of water. Have someone present to assist you.

[Clarrisa in reply to Clarrisa]

Addition: If these are not fasting tests(?) eat beforehand too.

[elwins]

I decided in the end to pay the extra and have a nurse visit me and take the blood test for me. It was much easier than having all the hassle of trying to do it myself. Have tried it before and struggled to do it. Hope you are successful next time.

[suebob59 in reply to elwins]

Thanks, I hope so too.

[Rosepetal60]

Hi suebob59, same/ similar happened to me, only managed about 5 drops of blood and that was using all the lancets and suitable fingers! , soaking hand in very hot water tested with cookery thermometer to make sure it was hot enough. Clenching hand etc. I felt so annoyed with myself for not being able to manage it. So now I have paid the extra amount for a venous blood test at a BMI hospital. Apparently only 1 in 10 people are successful doing the finger prick test. So that made me feel a bit better about it and hope it helps you feel better about it too. I haven't been for the blood test yet. Just need to check a couple of things first with the helpful people on here.

[suebob59 in reply to Rosepetal60]

Good to know I'm in the majority then. They make it sound so easy to do.😠

[Rosepetal60]

Agree with you. But I'm also wondering that I did not press hard enough on the lancet as I didn't need any plasters. Perhaps I should have been more brutal. I did find it all very fiddly !

[suebob59 in reply to Rosepetal60]

Morning Rosepetal, judging by bruised fingers this morning I think I was brutal enough!!

[Hidden]

I've used Medichecks tests and had similar problems in the past. However when I called Medichecks they said if I'd got some blood to send it off anyway. If for some reason there wasn't enough to test, they would then send another kit. Each time they have been able to use the sample I sent.

One thing I found with the lancets, for me it does depend on whereabouts you prick your finger. I was looking at the picture on the leaflet which seems to suggest pricking the soft pad on the other side of your finger to your fingernail. That didn't really produce anything much at all for me, but if I use the lancet (and press it firmly against) the hard side of your finger, this usually seems to yield more blood. Though still not enough to the marker line on the vial, but they have been able to test it anyway.

[suebob59 in reply to Hidden]

Morning Georgina,

Did you use lancet to the side or below your nailed??

[Hidden in reply to suebob59]

To the side of my finger, probably fractionally below the nail in the hardest part you can find. It does make you flinch a bit, but it seemed to work much better. But blood flow still very slow which is weird as I'm taking aspirin which generally would make blood flow quicker.

[suebob59 in reply to Hidden]

I'll give it a go this way next time, many thanks.

[suebob59 in reply to suebob59]

I meant nailbed not nailed😁