Home Testing with Thriva

[FairyfeetX]

Has anyone experience of loomandarrow.co.uk ?

Tempting offer - 50% discount!

[LouiseRoberts]

Testing through these companies raises essential funds for Thyroid UK:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/p...

Thanks!

[FairyfeetX in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Thanks Louise, I will investigate! Lack of awareness I'm afraid....

[LouiseRoberts in reply to FairyfeetX]

Not a problem

[Cooper27]

I've used Thriva - very quick turnaround. Post your sample, and you have results within 48 hours.

Instructions were clear, communication was good (they send texts when they have your sample and when your results are ready). I just wish you didn't have to pay separately for the thyroid and vitamin tests, as it works out more expensive than medichecks, but I don't see any problem with taking advantage of a special offer...

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Cooper27]

Appreciated - however donations from the testing companies mentioned in my link above accounts for more than 33% of the total income for Thyroid UK.

Louise

[Cooper27 in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Should the charity not state on their page that they are receiving a financial incentive to recommend those testing companies? Seems a bit dodgy not to...

I did compare the companies, and medichecks are cheaper for thyroid+ vit, while Thriva were cheaper for vitamin only.

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Cooper27]

Information on this on the testing company pages:

Medichecks - Thyroid UK will benefit from every single test you buy from us so that they can broaden their reach and help more people who are struggling to get their symptoms diagnosed and treated. You don’t need any vouchers or special codes – we track every customer who comes to our site from Thyroid UK’s.

Regenerus - Thyroid UK will receive a donation for every test ordered.

Genova - Thyroid UK receives a donation for each test ordered via this leaflet.

Blue Horizon - Ordering is possible by telephone or online, and results are also sent online, through email, or by post if you prefer. By using the voucher codes in this leaflet Blue Horizon Medicals makes a small donation to Thyroid UK.

[Cooper27 in reply to LouiseRoberts]

But it's the testing companies who say it, not thyroid UK. I just find it a bit odd.

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK in reply to Cooper27]

Hi Cooper27,

Although some of the text is in the third person, looking like the testing companies have written the text, it was actually myself who wrote the text and it's Thyroid UK who insists on being open and transparent about the donations we receive from these companies.

We also thank the testing companies for their donations in our annual report.

We understand that people need the best price for their testing but we like to remind people, especially members of this Thyroid UK forum, that purchasing tests from the companies we work with means that you are supporting Thyroid UK financially too, which enables us to continue with our work helping people with thyroid disease.

[Cooper27 in reply to lynmynott]

That's fair enough, it's just to check it's stated on the TUK website, the previous post sounded like it only stated it on the testing company web pages, and that seemed odd.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Cooper27]

Cooper27, Please follow the links that say Click here for more information from this page on the TUK website. thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/p... If TUK receives donations, you will see it stated in the details.

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Cooper27]

We received nothing from any phlebotomy service nor from City Assays.

[FairyfeetX in reply to Cooper27]

Thanks for the recommendation - all these warnings about the internet and scams!, good to know someone's had a positive experience. I think the 50% only applies to their baseline & advance tests [£49 & £69] not the Thyroid £84. We need Martin to do a comparison chart!

[RedApple Administrator in reply to FairyfeetX]

FairyfeetX and Cooper27

"all these warnings about the internet and scams!" is surely one very good reason to go with the companies that have been endorsed by Thyroid UK, regardless of whether or not Thyroid UK receives commission from them.

[Cooper27 in reply to RedApple]

They were recommended to me by a friend...

[FairyfeetX in reply to Cooper27]

Good enough for me! Sorry, I didn't know I was going to be opening a can of worms....]

[RedApple Administrator in reply to FairyfeetX]

FairyfeetX, you didn't open any cans... of worms, beans or anything else Nothing wrong with discussion and asking for opinions from others.

But since this forum would not exist if it weren't for Thyroid UK, it really does seem fair to let them have a say in things and plug themselves too!

[FairyfeetX in reply to RedApple]

The 'can' comment was really to Cooper because he or she was challenged after offering me a welcome reply. I appreciate that your role is to promote Thyroid UK but I don't have the energy for further discussion. I'm on my last legs...

[FairyfeetX in reply to RedApple]

Which is why I asked for recommendations. On a tight budget a company with a good reputation and low cost has to be my priority. Has anyone created a comparison chart? [I am certainly not against a charity getting a cut I just wasn't aware that Thyroid UK was a beneficiary from some companies - otherwise I would be asking there and not on here.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to FairyfeetX]

Not sure there would be much point in a comparison chart as prices change regularly according to who's offering special prices at any given time

[FairyfeetX in reply to RedApple]

Ok, just me being lazy! [or exhausted picking hair up....]

[Cooper27 in reply to FairyfeetX]

So looking at the packages, thriva have actually updated things since I had my tests initially, as the thyroid test now includes all vitamins (I paid separately for thyroid and vitamin tests before).

So thriva+vit is £84 while medi-checks+vit is £99.

Both test are broadly the same: Medichecks do FT3 and FT4 and CRP-hs (checks for inflammation in the body). Thriva don't do CRP-hs, and just say they test T3 and T4, they don't distinguish whether this is free or total. When I had my tests, it was frees, but it could have changed, and if it is totals, then medichecks would be your better option.

Medichecks do special offers on Thursday's, so definitely check them out tomorrow - I haven't used medichecks personally, but my OH has, and it was much the same. Hope this helps!

[FairyfeetX in reply to Cooper27]

Thank you! Don't options make life complicated?!

[QUE6T-33 in reply to RedApple]

Has Thriva been endorsed by Thyroid UK, as would feel a little more assured in using if so. Can see company is listed on TUK test page. Thriva is new to me &, yes, they do offer very reasonable test I'm interested in. But just read few reviews about the 'subscription' side of their service which reflect my own concerns. Thriva say it's easy to cancel the subscription, but few reviews have mentioned their difficulty in doing so. Thriva not being contactable by phone mentioned too when trying to obtain a refund, where messaging hasn't seemed helpful. I've not used Facebook myself, but notice Thriva do & wondered if anyone knows if a customer's profile / test results would be stored on that medium ? But have also read mainly good reviews I have to say which has kept my interest. Grateful if anyone knows more about Thriva than I do please. Thanks.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to QUE6T-33]

QUE6T-33, I can't help with any re-assurance about the company as I've not used them myself. Yes, Thyroid UK do now list Thriva on their website (it says you can get an introductory discount) , but that's all I know. thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

I am sure Thyroid UK would want to hear about it if people are genuinely having bad experiences with this testing company.

If you're unsure about trying Thriva, then why not stick with the ones people here have been happily using for years now (i.e. Medichecks and Blue Horizon)

[QUE6T-33 in reply to RedApple]

Thanks RedApple, yes I've used both BH & Medichecks without a problem. But there are those on this forum who have used Thriva & it would be nice to learn from those who have experience in using whether good or bad. Their test is geared towards Thyroid so it would be of interest to know. My best

[Cooper27]

Yeah, I took advantage of the 50% off for vitamins, as I'm checking whether my deficiencies are getting back in range. Going forward, I will more likely do an annual medichecks for thyroid+ vit.

[Maxisoul]

Of course, it would be great to support Thyroid UK where possible. However, all of these tests in all labs are expensive and we ideally need quite a few of them on a fairly regular basis, so people on a tight budget may really need to go with the best offers, even if ideally they would prefer to support TUK. Of the TUK-endorsed labs, Medichecks seems to be the most reasonable, but I've been waiting more than two weeks to a query I sent them about tests I'm interested in. I was hoping to take advantage of the March discount, but it doesn't look promising, so I'm now looking elsewhere and, being honest, finances dictate that I need to get the best offer or just forego getting tested at all. I wish money wasn't a factor, but unfortunately for many of us it is as this health condition is very expensive to manage, between tests and supplements and private consultations etc.

[shaws Administrator]

Maxisoul Cooper27 FairyfeetX We wouldn't have this forum if it hadn't been for lynmynott starting Thyroiduk.org.uk in a garden shed which is at the bottom of her garden and we could all become members of TUK if we wished which makes TUK stronger the more members we have when we're up against the Professional Endocrinologist etc who don't seem to listen or understand that some do not get well on levothyroxine or remain undiagnosed (I was undiagnosed).

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_...

We get the advantage of people helping others who come onto the forum if they've gone through the same circumstances thus giving us a larger voice amongst the medical profession. How do we think a charity (small) can be effective as we're up against the Professionals whom don't seem to be the ones that return us to good health and symptom-free. All on the forum members give their help/advice freely as they don't want others suffering as they did.

I should think Lyn Mynott must be well out of pocket over the years and expenses for phone/travel/meetings cannot be through done through 'thin air'. It was probably due to the strength of her family's support when she was so desperately ill that initiated Thyroiduk.org.uk. You can begin/join a Support Group in your area who meet on a regular basis:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/suppor...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/member...