Biotin affecting test

[haggisplant]

If there a way to establish if tests have been done using one of the affected tests?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sorry, I don't understand your question.

Test results can be false if biotin is used in the testing procedure and the patient has taken a supplement containing Biotin.

If you don't take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin then there's nothing to worry about.

If you do take Biotin or a B Complex containing it, then it's best to assume the testing procedure uses biotin as many labs do. In this case it's recommended to leave the supplement off for 7 days.

[haggisplant]

Thanks, I have recently become aware of this. Last test was definitely without taking biotin in supplements.

Is there a way to find out if my local lab test in that way? I’m querying my test in April on which there was a decision made to reduce thyroxine. And so I’ve become hypo, obviously.

I’ve also had post partum hormonal changes and I’d also had a course of prednisone a few weeks before the test in April.

Trying to work out what’s going on as 125 has been ‘my good dose’ for 20 years.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to haggisplant]

Is there a way to find out if my local lab test in that way?

Only by asking them. But a quick Google search shows this

google.co.uk/search?sxsrf=A...

They all seem to mention high doses of Biotin, but who knows!

There is no way of knowing how the results are false - false high or false low, it's just said that false results can be given.

Trying to work out what’s going on as 125 has been ‘my good dose’ for 20 years.

I was fine on Levo for 20 years. Then I became unwell. It took many years of trying to find answers, being ignored by the NHS and belittled by an endo, and only when I found this forum and discovered that testing nutrient levels, etc, was important that I started to understand my problem. My nutrient levels were poor, apart from B12, and my conversion of T4 to T3 was also poor. Why this should suddenly happen after 20 years of being fairly stable I don't know.

[haggisplant]

Thanks, I know my vitamins etc are good as I had a range of tests for peripheral neuropathy.

I suppose it’s possible that the lab recently changed etc. I’ve always taken berocca and biotin is in that as well as in pregnancy and breastfeeding tablets which I’ve taken on and off for 8 years. (This is potentially really important for pregnant women if they take those supplements and are on thyroxine.)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to haggisplant]

Peripheral neuropathy can be linked to mix of low B vitamins and low Vitamin D

Low vitamin D and low B vitamins may be linked as explained here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

What were your most recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 test results?

Biotin links

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[haggisplant in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes these are all good; Im starting to think that it may be a circulation issue and / or hormones. (Possibly mild Raynauds.) I had it badly in hands yesterday morning and it lifted significantly at lunch time, though suddenly tired. Then (after two months!) my period started over night . I going to see how things go over the next few months and go back to Gp.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to haggisplant]

Low FT3 causes multitude of symptoms

Getting thyroid levels optimal is likely to help most

[silverfox7]

I was unsure what to do but then thought to ask what method the labs use and then realised that the person taking my blood may not know or worse may not think it important so I thought it easier for me to make sure my test was valid by stopping B12 a week before testing.

[haggisplant in reply to silverfox7]

Yes I will be doing this going forward. I’m just trying to work out what’s been going on; if it’s the tests or my body!

It’s B7, not b12 so continuing that should be ok.

[silverfox7 in reply to haggisplant]

That might be difficult to find out. I have seen a posting about how it messes up readings and I think it can vary from person to person but it’s so long ago now I could be wrong! May be use the search facility to see if that helps. It could have been someone reporting the differences on two readings but then that wouldn’t be helpful if it could go either way. You may just have to draw a line under it and carry on with the week off.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to silverfox7]

silverfox7

It's Biotin - B7 - not B12 that affects test results. Biotin is found in B Complex or can be a stand alone supplement.

With B12 all that will affect is the B12 result. If you want a baseline B12 level you leave B12 off for 4-5 months. If you want to know if the amout of B12 you take is keeping your B12 at the right level then you continue taking it and the test result will show if you're taking the right amount.

[silverfox7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Just written a reply SS and now lost that! Not my day today! So thank you for correcting my terrible error. Of course I’m familiar with the problems with taking Biotin and I was trying to remember the actual effect it made so no idea why I put B12 other than trying to do too many things at once.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to silverfox7]

Aww, not to worry, we all have days like that

[silverfox7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for that! Had a bit of a week after home from holiday that’s been not stop or seemingly so!