Medichecks stopping special order finger prick tests. Where can I get bloods from now? Does anyone use companies other than BH or Medi?

[Salphy]

Hi I usually do the wellwoman ultravit test via fingerprick through medichecks. They've been brilliant over the last few years from a customer service point of view which is why I switched from blue horizon.

The test includes FBC liver function, iron status, kidney function, hba1c, inflammation marker, Proteins, gout risk (uric acid), cholesterol status, magnesium, tsh, ft4, ft3, fish, LH, oestradiol, vit d, folate and active b12. For £149.

You used to be able to order it as a finger prick off the website which they stopped so for a while I've been having to call up and order over the phone.

I ordered one a few weeks ago and was told that on this occasion if I had to repeat the test due to not enough blood (in the past I've had half results then had to repeat for the next half but I prefer this over venous due to needle phobia) then I would have to pay a £10 retest fee. Not a problem so I agreed.

Recieved the test kit which had 1 vial less than usual. So felt like they were already setting me up to fail. I contacted them and they said it was normal for special orders to only have 2 vials now so just fill them up to the top not the fill line.

Anyway all went fine and I got all my results back on the first go. Brilliant.

My other half has asked for a test for xmas. He does all of mine for me whilst I sit there with my finger out and eyes closed!

I've tried to order but they have told me that as an organisation they are no longer allowing orders outside of what's available on their website. Which is only venous. He also doesn't like venous blood tests, wouldn't pay extra to have one and wouldn't spend time going drs for it checked free so definitely not going to spend more time going to clinic or private hospital for one he's paying for.

Surely this is the main reason people use Medichecks and not just get it free on the NHS? Quicker and more convenient?

They have sent me links to a number of tests available by fingerprick that include some of the ones on the wellwoman. The total of buying them separately is £177 and doesnt include FBC, FT3, fish, LH or oestradiol. The main ones I need to monitor my hashi's and PCOS.

I feel like it must be that they are more concerned about profits than customer service now. I've checked Blue Horizon and their wellwoman includes stool sample test and other things which I don't need or want to do.

I think I have found fingerprick tests I can combine to get most of what I need I just can't find full blood count. Plus I'm going to have very sore fingers doing them all separate! Can anyone please help?

Thanks

[humanbean]

I think I have found fingerprick tests I can combine to get most of what I need I just can't find full blood count.

The only FBC there is on the Medichecks site is here :

medichecks.com/haematology-...

and unfortunately it isn't offered as a fingerprick test at all, it is only offered as a venous blood sample test. (I thought it used to be available as fingerprick as well, but I'm not sure.)

I think it is possible to get a phlebotomist to come to your house, but I don't know much about this option, nor do I know how much it costs.

By the time you've added up the cost of multiple tests and the cost of phlebotomy it will get very expensive. One option I've used quite a few times over the years is the Blue Horizon tests done in conjunction with Spire Hospitals. BH have similar arrangements available with BMI, but I have never used them.

privatebloodtests.co.uk/pro...

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

The above test (from BH at Spire) has the advantage, money-wise, of including phlebotomy in the price, and Spire sends off the blood to the lab, so there are no added postage costs either. But you do have to go to them, they won't come to you. Unfortunately, none of this answers your problems of needle phobia, sorry.

[Salphy in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean.

Yes they did used to offer it as fingerprick and it was included as fingerprick in the wellwoman.

Its the only one I'm struggling to find as fingerprick.

They said it was the one failing most by fingerprick then people were paying to upgrade to venous anyway due to not wanting to repeat the finger prick.

I don't get why they can't just be very clear on their website that it may not work for some people first time so everyone can make their own decision rather than it not be an option at all.

I definitely wouldn't pay to go to have it done at clinic if I was having to have venous I would just get it on the nhs.

Medichecks have just responded to say they are working on a new fingerprick device that may allow them to offer the tests again but won't be available until next summer at least x

[AggieLeo]

I have used Thriva in the past. Their website is a little confusing but the service was very good once I managed to input my order.....

[RedApple in reply to AggieLeo]

That's good to know. And there's an intro offer of £15 off a Thriva thyroid test for Thyroid UK people. thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

[AggieLeo in reply to RedApple]

I think you will find

Discount code TRACKNOW applied. Get £30.00 off your first test.

[Salphy in reply to AggieLeo]

Thank you i will have a nosey now x

[Cooper27]

I tend to use Thriva too, although I've tried Medichecks too.

With thriva I would tend to start with the baseline test (cholesterol, liver, vit D, B12 and Iron), then you have the option to add other tests in on top of it. I think it's £49 for the baseline test, Thyroid is an extra £17, CRP £9 and so on. I don't think they test magnesium (either that or it was pricey, and I didn't want to pay that much).

[Cooper27 in reply to Cooper27]

I just heard a discount code for Thriva in a podcast if you do want to try them out: £30 off if you use "Mann30". Just be aware that Thriva automatically enrol you in a quarterly subscription, so you need to change the settings.

[AggieLeo in reply to Cooper27]

Discount code TRACKNOW applied. Get £30.00 off your first test.

You can cancel the regular subscription after your first if you so wish. I did as I thought testing every 3 months is a tad OTT (for me).