I ordered the above test when it was on offer and have just opened it to find that there is only one vial. Is that right? Since Medichecks recommend venous collection of blood for this particular set of tests I expected two vials.
This kit tests for 9 different things. Has anyone else done this test? And should there in fact only be one vial.
Would be grateful to anyone who can advise.
Best wishes
Caroline
There was a thread about this recently and it was quite confusing.
Is it a tiny microtainer - marked on the side with 0.6ml I think. Or is it a bigger tube?
I've just compared the tube for the thyroid check ultra with the tube for thyroid monitoring and they both appear to be exactly the same. Both have yellow tops and have two lines one marked 400 and the other 600.
I have actually contacted Medichecks and they have confirmed that one yellow capped vial is correct for the thyroid check ultra. I'm just unsure because, for the thyroid check ultra, venous extraction is recommended whereas the thyroid monitoring kit just specifies finger prick collection.
Obviously I don't want to fill just one tube for the thyroid check ultra, send it off and then find there has been some mistake. It's not exactly a fun procedure is it? So I thought I'd check with TUK members for confirmation. Are you surprised that there is only one tube? I am! But also relieved too if I only have to fill one vial.
It used to be 2 microtainers and I think that's why they probably say they recommend venous blood draw, because I expect some people were struggling to fill 2 microtainers.
I do the thyroid monitoring so if they've sent the same size one for the Ultravit then I'm surprised.
Blue Horizon only require one microtainer for their Plus Eleven so I've never understood why Medichecks used 2 or recommended venous blood draw.
Thanks Susie, I do think it’s odd that the vial is the same as for the TSH, FT4 and FT3 tests.
I am going to try for a live chat with Medichecks tomorrow or Friday so as to be sure. Will let you know what they say.
Thank you for replying to my post.
Best wishes
Caroline
I have received it too and only one vial. Keep me posted with what they say? Booked in for bloods next week. Thanks
Thanks for that. It might be right then, especially since I’ve been in touch by email and they confirmed it was. Am still going to double check though. Will let you know what they say.
Best wishes
Caroline
Hi Laura,
I’ve just checked with Medichecks on the phone and they have confirmed only one tube of blood is needed for the Thyroid Check Ultra.
Good news eh. We only have to fill one vial😊
All the best
Caroline
Laurawhiteford1
Booked in for bloods next week
Have you sent for the fingerprick test?
Just wondering why you're booked in for bloods if so.
Hi susie - yeah I paid £25 extra to get it done at the hospital through my vein. Don’t trust myself to prick my finger hahaha!
So you've been sent a venous blood draw kit then, not a fingerprick kit? That will be the bigger tube, as Bristolboy says further down the venous tube is about 3" long and it's correct that it only requires one vial. The microtainer tube included in the fingerprick test is tiny, about 1" long, and can't be used with a venous blood draw.
Ahhh I see yeah that makes sense
Hi Susie,
Have just spoken to someone at Medichecks and they have confirmed that only one vial is necessary for the Thyroid Check Ultra. Apparently it was a recent decision on their part to ask for only one tube of blood. Guess this is as a result of the fact that Blue Horizon need only one vial for their equivalent test. All is good anyway.
Best wishes
Caroline
Caroline, I think SeasideSusie is referring to a discussion I initiated about the tubes for the Thyroid Ultra Vit test. I had exactly the same conversation with Medichecks 3 or 4 weeks ago (more than one conversation, in fact). Their responses conflicted - at first they said they would send me a second tube, and then rang me back to say they were wrong, and didn't need the second tube (for a venous blood draw). I then rang and spoke to someone else, who confirmed only one tube was needed (for venous). So I had the blood draw using only one tube (which I would describe as being about 3 inches long) and the test results came back in the usual way. However, ultimately, if Medichecks send anyone the wrong equipment, and they can't do the test, then Medichecks would have to put that right at their own expense (but we would still be left with the hassle of a re-test). On the plus side, now they only need one tube of blood it leaves us with a bit more blood to help with dragging ourselves around!! Nick.
bristolboy
Thanks Nick. I knew there was a post but couldn't remember who it was or the finer details so couldn't do a search. So yours was a venous blood draw and they require 1 x 3" tube - that would be similar to the ones that are used when having a blood test at the surgery then, so yes 1 tube makes sense.
Just need to know if the fingerprick test requires 1 or 2 microtainers now. Blue Horizon Plus Eleven is one microtainer (that's the one I do), and I never understood why Medichecks requires 2 microtainers for their Ultravit .
Hi Nick,
Thank you for responding to my post.
Clearly the vial for the venous draw was quite a bit larger than the one I received. That was why it was so confusing. However we now have the answer😊. SeaSide Susie persisted to very good effect and then Bridgit of Medichecks posted confirming that one vial is sufficient for the thyroid check ultra, and possibly even for the thyroid check ultravit, so long as the tube is properly filled.
That is such good news! I was determined to attempt to fill two vials for finger prick testing but, to be honest, did find the prospect rather daunting. I have filled just one vial quite a few times for thyroid monitoring but two would certainly have been a challenge.
Thanks again for your post. Hope you are doing well.
Best wishes
Caroline
Caroline888
You are talking about the fingerprick test aren't you?
Yes.
Yes. And I did mention it was for finger prick testing in the email communication to Medichecks. I don’t know what to think now!
Mines come back with two vials. But the one I have said you can do it with a finger prick. I'm not sure I'll be able to fill both of them with this method. Going to give them a call today and see if I can have blood drawn
Hi Vikster,
That’s interesting. And a bit worrying as I’ve now been told twice by different people at Medichecks that only one vial is needed for the Thyroid Check Ultra. But you have two vials!!😧
I’d be grateful if you would let me know what they say to you.
Best wishes
Caroline
Hidden
Mines come back with two vials. But the one I have said you can do it with a finger prick.
That's my understanding - Medichecks Ultravit fingerprick test requires 2 x microtainers.
I think there's confusion because we don't yet know if Caroline has sent for the fingerprick test or the venous blood draw.
I ticked the box for the finger prick test and the vial I have is the same as the one for thyroid monitoring, i.e. not 3” in length like the one Nick said he got for the venous draw.
However I am very uncertain now. I think Medichecks should have made special mention in the kit if they’ve made a change to the number of vials needed.
I don’t think I mentioned on the phone to Medichecks that it was for a finger prick extraction (and they didn’t ask) but the yellow capped vial I have is certainly not any bigger than the one for thyroid monitoring.
It’s all very confusing!
I do sometimes think with Medichecks that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing!
It's always been my understanding that the fingerprick test requires two of the tiny microtainers, and the venous blood draw requires one of the larger tubes, the sort they use at the GP surgery.
I've just done Live Chat with Medichecks and asked
Can you please tell me if the Ultravit requires 1 or 2 microtainers for the fingeprick test.
and the reply was
The Thyroid Check UltraVit requires 2 containers
The kit I have is for the thyroid check ultra not the thyroid check ultravit. Do you think that makes a difference? I have only one vial and it’s not the large one for venous draw so something is wrong somewhere😟
Thank you for your reply and for trying to sort it
Best wishes
Caroline
Ha ha, I'm like a dog with a bone. I have to find the correct answer 
I've just done Live Chat again and asked
Can you confirm how many microtainers are needed for the Thyroid Ultra fingerprick test please, is it 1 or 2.
Answer:
You can fill and send one sample collection tube, we will do our best to complete the tests and you can have another finger prick to complete any tests we weren't able to obtain.
I asked:
So would you normally require 2 microtainers for the Ultra fingerprick?
Answer:
We do send 2 just in case of any failed tests so there is a back-up sample ready should it be needed but you are fine to send off just the one.
So it looks like you may get all 9 tests done with one microtainer full. But it looks like there should have been 2 microtainers in the kit.
I'm sort of speechless (very unusual for me), it does make you wonder why you've only been sent one microtainer, but you could just send that back and hopefully they'll manage all the tests.
Blue Horizon does 11 tests from one microtainer so hopefully, if the blood isn't damaged in any way then Medichecks will manage the 9 in the Ultra test.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear (shakes head in disbelief). Love the "dog with a bone" remark - me too - not enough of us around these days 
@Caroline888 mentions she has a kit for "thyroid check ultra", not "thyroid check ultravit", but I can't see an "ultra" on the Medichecks website - only "ultravit". Are we confusing ourselves? OR, more likely, it's me confusing myself!!
I've just taken delivery of one of their Thyroid Monitoring tests (finger prick version), which I've never used before (I've always had the UltraVit, with a venous blood draw). I don't need to use it yet, but I thought I'd get one in their recent sale to save a few pennies. I haven't opened it yet, in case I want to send it back, so now I'm wondering how many microtainers are in there. The suspense is killing me - but I'm still not going to open it until I need to use it
Hi Nick
Caroline888 mentions she has a kit for "thyroid check ultra", not "thyroid check ultravit",
Yes that was my mistake, it says "Ultra" in the thread title - I should have gone to SpecSavers
Here's the Ultra kit, the only difference between that and the UltraVit is that Vit D is not included in the Ultra
medichecks.com/thyroid-func...
I've done the fingerprick Thyroid Monitoring test lots of times when I was tweaking doses of Levo and T3, I seem to be stable now so wont do one for a good while. It's definitely one microtainer for that test. I find them easy to do but not everyone does, I'll put my tips below and you could print them off and save, or save this thread and refer back to it at the time
* Be well hydrated, drink plenty of water the day before, and before you do the test.
* Some people take a shower before hand, some run up and down the stairs to get blood flowing. Personally, as I can't run up and down the stairs, I circle my arm round, windmill style.
* Have a bowl full of hot water, dip hand in and out, swish around, hand needs to go red. If blood flow stops, you can always swish round in the hot water again.
* Stand up to do the test. Make sure your arm is straight down when collecting the blood. Either use a small step stool to raise yourself well above the work surface, or put the collection tube on a lowish shelf. One member uses an ironing board so she can get the perfect height.
* Prick finger on the side, not the tip. I find that half way between the nail bed and tip is about right, or maybe slightly nearer the nail bed rather than the tip. I use my ring finger, but middle finger is next best for me.
* Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it can damage the blood and it may not be usable.
I've recently done 2 tests. The first one there was very little blood coming out which was unusual for me so I used a second finger and between the two I gradually filled the tube. However, when I checked the prick site for the first finger the actual cut was very small and as I've had some of these lancets fail before I put it down to that. When I did the second test this week this is what I did
* Prick my finger as usual, make a very slight twist with the lancet whilst blade is still in the finger. I'm not talking 90 degrees or anything, just a very slight twist to make the cut just slightly bigger, it doesn't hurt or cause a blood bath! This made a big difference, 11 generous drops of blood filled the tube in less 2 minutes.
If you supplement with Biotin, or a B complex containing it (B7), Medichecks have confirmed that they because they use biotin in their assay it's recommended to leave it off for 7 days before doing any blood tests as it can give false results.
You have 6 months to use the test from date of ordering, but check the date on the microtainer tube, if it goes out of date before you intend to do the test then ring Medichecks and they will send a new one out.
Hope that helps.
The suspense is killing me - but I'm still not going to open it until I need to use it
Go on, you know you want to
Crikey if that was a box of maltesers (or any chocolate come to think of it) in my house it wouldn't stand a chance - opened immediately, gone in 10 minutes
Susie,
That's soooooo annoying, but I'd swear that the Ultra test (which you've just linked to) didn't appear earlier when I looked at Medichecks' list of thyroid tests (I only saw the UltraVit). I literally picked up a new pair of specs yesterday afternoon, and I'm wearing them now, so can't blame my eyesight - so let's put it down to premature senility 
.
I, too, have the willpower of a gnat when it comes to chocolate. When our son was a toddler (he's 33 now) I was often known to steal his last chocolate without any qualms!!!
Thanks for the advice about finger-pricking . BTW, if you recall our recent discussion about Thorne Basic B Complex (which includes B12) and Cytoplan B Complex (which doesn't have any B12), I've only just noticed that Cytoplan doesn't have any Biotin in it either - so that might help someone. Personally, I'm going to lay off the Cytoplan for 5 days before my next blood draw anyway, just to be sure.
Nick
Hi Susie,
Sorry for the delay in replying. Have been out all day and my phone died!
Thank you so much for pursuing this to the bitter end. Well not so bitter as I’m really pleased, as you probably are, that we can fill just one vial for both the ultra and the ultravit blood tests so long as we fill it properly.
Thank you for finally clearing the confusion. I really do appreciate it.
Best wishes
Caroline
Hi, SeasideSusie, I did the Medichecks UltraVit in the last six months or so and it was two tubes. Paperwork said fingertip draw could be used but venous better. I went to my local hospital and got the blood draw there, and I wasn’t charged for the process.
Yes both myself and my partner have had this test fairly recently there is only one vial now.
The company I use only send 1 tube, and that's used to check for 9+ things, so you should be fine!
Hi Caroline and all,
This is Bridgit at Medichecks. We seem to be causing some confusion with the number of vials needed for some of our tests so I thought I'd take this opportunity to clarify. We select the number of tubes based on 3 things: how many markers are being measured, how "thirsty" some of those markers are (meaning you need a lot of blood to measure them), and what is the failure rate (e.g. insufficient sample), of the test if we try to measure too many markers from just 1 tube of blood. You are correct to say that the Thyroid Check Ultra only needs 1 tube, and has only ever needed 1 tube. The Thyroid Check UltraVit uses 2 tubes but we are aware that some of our competitors use only 1. This is a really borderline test; if you fill the tube right to the top line (i.e. a perfect fill) then we can be confident that we can get all the measurements for you. If you don't achieve a full sample then there is a high probability that we won't be able to test all the markers due to insufficient sample. Due to the recent thread on Health Unlocked, we did temporarily reduce the number of vials on the Thyroid Check UltraVit to 1 but immediately saw an increase in our failure rate which in our opinion is a worse customer experience than having to collect a bit more blood at the outset. If you are confident that you can fill the vial sufficiently, then you are welcome to do a Thyroid Check UltraVit on 1 tube, but for the best and most reliable experience we recommend 2.
I hope that helps and apologies for the confusion!
Hi Bridgit,
Thank you so much for your very comprehensive post - really grateful that you have cleared up the confusion.
Best wishes
Caroline
Thyroid Check Results
Help with Medichecks Thyroid Ultra Results
Private thyroid scan/ultra sound
Anyone used Medichecks for thyroid checking?
Finger prick test for initial thyroid check. 
