Help with medichecks

[Sweetpea1157]

Hi everyone , just received my medichecks kit today , will be doing the tests on Monday morning , but , at the risk of sounding dumb or totally stupid , after reading the instructions, it says to fill the purple top vile if one is present first, then the yellow top vile , there is no purple top vile , but there are 2 yellow top viles , do I have to fill them both ?? , cos that's an awful lot of blood to squeeze out of my poor wee finger .😢

Some advice would be appreciated please thankyou in advance ☺

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sweetpea1157

So it sounds like you have the ULTRAVIT test, as that requires 2 x microtainers. I always use Blue Horizon for the full thyroid/vitamin bundle as they only require 1 x microtainer.

Whatever you do, don't squeeze your finger to get the blood out, you will damage the blood.

Have a look at my tips for doing a fingerprick test here, 5th reply down in the thread:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

If you fail to fill both microtainers, Medichecks will do whatever tests they can from the blood you send, and may send you a second test kit to do the tests they can't do from your first attempt.

If you don't think you can do it at all, I'd ring Medichecks and ask if they're willing to send you a venous blood draw kit instead, and you'll have to pay for phlebotomy unless your GP surgery will do it for you, or you have a nurse friend who can do it.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie , thanks for those tips , will be taking all that on board Monday morning, thanks again ☺

[MaisieGray]

Honestly, even the amount required to fill two phials isn't a great deal of blood. I put everything on the ironing board and do it from there as I can adjust it to exactly the right height for me. I have arthritis in my thumbs, weakness in my arms plus action tremor, and part of that is that standing still for more than a moment or two makes me feel very weird; so if I can do it, anyone can. When I did it a fortnight ago my problem was stopping the blood flow, rather than not getting enough.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks for that MaisieGray, that was a handy tip about the ironing board

Thank you so much , 😊

[cazzaleo]

I was worried about it when I got mine last week too. Unfortunately I couldn’t even get enough to fill one vial despite following all tips - I guess doing it that way isn’t for everybody but it seems plenty of people on here do just fine with it so hopefully you will too!

I just wanted to let you know not to worry if it doesn’t go according to plan for you. I called Medichecks and told them what happened, I’ve paid £25 to have blood taken professionally and they’ve sent me a new kit for it.

Hope yours goes well 🤞

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to cazzaleo]

Hi cazzaleo , hope your second attempt goes better and all is well , but just wanted to ask if poss please , who is doing your blood draw and did medichecks charge again for second kit ☺

[cazzaleo in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Thanks Sweetpea! I’m having the blood drawn at a local private GPs, Medichecks gave me a few options (as well as an nurse home visit for £39). They didn’t charge me for the second kit, just the £25 for the blood draw 😃

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to cazzaleo]

Ok thanks for that info cazzaleo ☺

[Marymary7]

I had to prick two fingers to get enough.. I did squeeze sorry SeasideSusie ! But I only just did get enough. I wondered if I should have had lots more water the day before. There is a gel at the bottom of the tube so it's not as much as it looks to fill, remember to tilt it a few times after but don't shake. I don't get why you have different colour tops than the instructions say.

Good luck 😀

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to Marymary7]

Thanks for that Marymary, hope all comes back ok , will put new post up on Monday after I've attempted to do it ☺

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Marymary7]

Marymary7

I don't get why you have different colour tops than the instructions say

They're generic instructions so are sent out for every test they offer. The UltraVit only requires gold tops, another test kit which has different tests included may require a gold and a purple topped tube.

Different coloured tops means the tubes have different additives which perform different actions on the blood depending on what tests are being carried out. Here's a guide to coloured tops and what the additives the vials contain

geekymedics.com/blood-bottl...

It's interesting that the article mentions 1ml of blood is enough for a full blood count, the microtainer tubes hold 0.8ml of blood so one would seem plenty for a basic thyroid panel, and two is plenty for the Ultravit.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, thanks for that bit of info you gave marymary ☺

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sweetpea1157]

No problem

I learnt something myself from that article - how little blood is actually needed for many tests!

[AnneEvo]

I've found the simplest thing; to get good blood flow; is to immerse my hands in hot water for a minute or two. It always works for me - previously tried exercise and warming hands by rubbing them together; it didn't work for me.

[Sweetpea1157]

Thanks AnneEvo for that tip, will give that a try

[Sweetpea1157]

Sorry forgot to give you a smiley face 😊😊

[AnneEvo in reply to Sweetpea1157]

🙂

[Hidden]

When my daughter tried to do this she failed even using the tips on here. I personally order the nurse when ordering from Medichecks she comes to the house early morning. The cost was £39 last December. If you decide to go with the nurse you will have to obtain a new kit from Medichecks the new kit is FOC>

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bunnyjean, will give that a try if tomorrows attempt fails , fingers and toes crossed it will all go ok though

Thanks again ☺