I usually get my blood drawn in a partner clinic when doing my thyroid panel. But due to current situation I wanted to find out how reliable the finger prick test is? Has anyone got any experience of doing the finger prick way?
Can I be at peace of mind that I would get the same result as if I were drawing blood?
Thanks
I always do fingerprick tests because I can't get a blood draw - GP surgery wont do them, nor will hospital without request from GP (but hospital is 60 miles away anyway) and there are no clinics where I live to get it done.
I have had a fingerprick test within a couple of days of a GP test and results were amost identical, allowing for natural fluctuations.
It's the same blood, just taken from a different place. Just be sure not to squeeze your finger to get the blood out as that can damage the blood. Medichecks have an official video on Youtube " Medichecks 'How to take a finger prick blood sample' " and I can pass on some tips if you wish.
Hi, the last time I had a Blood test from Medichecks I got a blood draw set up by them at the local hospital for £25, it was much easier and comfortable.
Whilst that might generally be a good option, it might not be an option at all at present.
My local hospital wont do them, and it's 60 miles away so I couldn't get there for a blood draw no later than 9am even if they did. But I do find fingerprick tests easy so not a problem for me.
That’s a shame, still as long as you can get them done one way or another.x
In my region I can get it done for free, although I have to make sure to go to the right clinic, because there are a few different types of vacutainer and different ones are used in different places.
There is a lot of variation in what is offered in different regions!
Don't forget that when going in in person you might not always be able to get the earliest appointment, whereas at home you can do it the moment you wake up and make sure all your tests are done identically.
I live a 10 minute walk from our small local hospital, so getting there for 8 30 am is no problem, thank goodness.
Yes please do pass on tips! 💗
TIPS FOR DOING FINGERPRICK TEST
* 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 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), leave it off for 7 days before doing any blood tests as it can give false results when biotin is used in the testing procedure, and most labs do use it.
Hope that helps 
Thanks so much! 💗 you are always super helpful!
Hello SeasideSusie
I hope you can see my message soon 😪
I just did the test but forgot to wipe away the first drop of blood. Does that matter? I cannot repeat it as the tube is already filled with blood.
Medichecks is not open till 10am to ask advice and I would like to go to the post office to queue and send it off as it needs to be sent on the same day.
Debating with myself if I should go to post office and post it anyway or wait until 10am to check with Medicheck if its valid to send it off..
Hope you can see my msg!
Ocean2
I think it should be OK, I've done that once myself and my results came back with no problems. It's probably just a precaution in case there's any chance of any bacteria being on your finger, but as we wash our hands before doing the test and use the sterile or alcohol wipe, there's not much chance of that anyway.
Yes I phoned them as the post office was closed till 10.30. They said it's ok, it's just in case there is some blood cloth in the first drop. And they do get back to the person if there is a problem with the sample.
Xx
OK, that's great. Good to know the reason for wiping away the first drop.
I struggled getting the blood to flow into the small capsule , Medi checks sent me another and told me to put my hand in hot water first to help the blood flow . Which solved the problem straight away.
I’ve now done perhaps 5 finger prick blood tests, some of which have coincided with tests the GP has run. Generally the results between the home test and the GP’s have been comparable within about 0.1 units either way. I’m lucky in that the reference ranges used by Thriva who I use for home tests are the same as the lab who run my tests from the GP so they’re very easy to compare side by side.
So yes, I have found them to be very comparable.
I find it very important to have a good routine before the test. I start preparing the night before by laying everything out - all the test components, a pen to write the label etc. I even part complete the label so it’s one less thing to think about. As I take my Levo in the night (it’s so routine now that I’m barely conscious I’m doing it) I “hide” it from myself so I can’t accidentally take it and prepare it so I can take it straight after the test. On waking the next morning I drink a full glass of water (and try to make sure I’ve drink lots the day before too) then have a hot shower. Both of these help with blood flow and make the test much easier. Then it’s test time!
Hope that’s in some way helpful 😊
I do a full thyroid panel occasionally and the T4 and TSH are comparable to the GP surgery results. Son has used to for thyroid and other hormones, surgery insisted on repeating and got almost identical results.
We do first thing in morning and place hand on a heat pad for a few minutes prior to using lancet to help blood flow.
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