Medi Checks

[Alice70]

Hi can anyone help ,recieve medi check pack ,for those who have had this thyriod blood test ,did anyone find they couldn't get blood from fingers ,I tried three different fingers,still not enough blood only one drop from each finger, gave up as I found the finger prick quite painful ,I am no baby I get my b12 injection no problem, I rang medi checks they have sent me a new pk ,the advice they give me for getting the blood I already did that on first go ,has anyone got any advice on how I can get my drops of blood flowing

[NWA6]

I just can’t do the fingerprick test. I always pay extra for the venous draw. It’s £30 at a registered Superdrug (or £50 at my local surgery)

[Alice70 in reply to NWA6]

Thank you for this way, the only thing now is medi checks have sent me the finger pricks agian ,i should of asked for the venous draw kit ,I'll first see if i can find a super drug that does this near me ,or do superdrug's have there own blood with drawal kit

[NWA6 in reply to Alice70]

You just email/phone Medichecks and ask them to change it. They’ll let you know which places near you can do your draw. I tried 3 times to do fingerprick (3 separate times) but now I’m resigned to venous draws.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Alice70

Some of us can do fingerprick tests easily, for others it's a struggle or even an impossibility. My tips:

* 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, at the same time try and make a very slight twist with the lancet (the blade retracts very quickly). 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.

Video showing how to do a fingerprick test:

youtube.com/watch?v=w2JzToZ...(Not working as expected?)

[Alice70 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Susie ,I will try agian on monday

[BShankly]

Hi Alice70.

I had the same problem - used all 4 lancets but couldn't get any blood.

After 4 failed attempts, I just cut the side of my finger lightly with a scalpel blade and the blood flowed really well. Didn't hurt as the side of the finger was less sensitive. Also, isn't in constant contact with objects and surfaces (thanks to SeasideSusie for the tip).

Hope you have better luck next time round.

B

[Alice70 in reply to BShankly]

Thank you shankly's I think I will have to resort to this as the hole from Lancet is so small

[BShankly in reply to Alice70]

Yeah... I found it didn't quite go deep enough on me.

(With the scalpel, I felt I had a bit more control.)

B.