Blood work on the NHS

[mjinder]

I had an appointment with an endo last week (first time seeing a specialist on the NHS) and he gave me a number to call to arrange a thyroid panel. When I call the number it dials once and disconnects. What is the standard procedure for getting blood work done? Who should I call?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

mjinder

Why not ring the endo's secretary and get her to check the number, maybe the endo got it wrong.

[joydot in reply to SeasideSusie]

maybe?

[Lora7again]

Can you ask your GP to arrange a blood test? I pay for my own private blood tests through medichecks and I attend my local hospital to have the blood drawn but you can have a blood test at your local GP's surgery.

[Dlm3557 in reply to Lora7again]

Hi there. Like you I go to the local NHS hospital to take bloods for my Medicheck tests. Lately none of the local hospitals are taking blood for private tests. I guess it’s because of Covid restrictions. All of the options for testing are At private clinics so far away from me I’ve been putting off getting my test! No idea when things will get back to normal if ever!

[elderflower2016]

If they have a website, check there and see if they have an email address listed for their endocrinology department. You can email and they will send you a blood test form. You can then go have the test at the hospital.

[EMBoy]

My bloods are always done through my GP. She gives me a request form that I take to the walk-in phlebotomy clinic at my local hospital. Results then go back to my GP. Alternatively, I can have blood taken at my GP surgery, but that means making an appointment for several weeks ahead.

Your local hospital should have a web site that you could check to see what the procedure is. Whatever system they have, you will need a request form from your GP or endo.

[fuchsia-pink]

I call the endo's sec and she sends a form that I can have done at the endo's hospital as a walk-in or by appointment locally - either the GP or local hospital - the latter starts earlier in the morning whereas the GP think early morning blood draw means 11am!

[mjinder]

Thanks everyone. I can't even find the name of the Dr on the NHS website directory for that hospital...will have to give them a call Monday!

[Lassithi]

The Endo I saw in local NHS hospital gave me the bloods request form there and then and I went downstairs to the blood clinic, waited in line, gave blood request form in and all done in seconds. Results back in 2 days.

Prior to this I have always made an appointment at GP surgery and they send them to the same NHS lab. Results back in 2 days. The thing you need from Endo is the blood request form and then ask at hospital if they have a walk in blood clinic (most do). I am assuming he has given you a form before directing you to the number. If he didn’t give you a form you will need to contact secretary and request one, you can then go to hospital or GP whichever easier/quicker. Good idea to register for on line access to medical records at your GP practice so you can access results and keep your own record (apologies if you have already got this). Good Luck.

[mjinder in reply to Lassithi]

That's the weird thing, it was a phone appointment so I have no form - he just said get a pen, write this number down and call to arrange blood work. I thought it was odd at the time but had such a bad connection on the call didn't ask any further questions.

I will need to register for access, thanks for the reminder. My GP is an online one as I moved around a fair bit. But the last time I has tests done they just gave me the results over the phone which was a pain

[Lassithi in reply to mjinder]

Maybe that was his Med Secs number and she can forward you the form?. Sounds very strange-during lockdown my Endo sent the form out to me by post and I went to GP.

Do you have the original letter confirming appt-if so call the contact on the letter tomorrow and they should be able to help you from there, Good Luck 😉

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Always get copies of all blood tests done...by GP or by hospital

Important to see what’s actually tested

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Are you currently taking levothyroxine?

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3 or NDT make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

If taking any supplements that have biotin in (eg vitamin B complex) then need to stop taking a week before ALL blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

[mjinder in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for all the info! I have records (and track in a spreadsheet) of all my prior tests over the last few years. I have used medichecks in the past, and also had tests abroad, so this is my first time trying to get it done on the NHS (needs must as not working!). I've been tracking Vit D, the Bs, iron, ferritin and a bunch of other things along with the thyroid panel.

I'm actually on a compounded T3/T4 - I stocked up when I was last in the US. I gave up on NDT at the start of the year, and switched to this..but I am far from optimal on it, seemed to do better on NDT. I suspect it may be because it's slow release - was told that people can have absorption issues with SR (and I know I have gut issues, and I take digestive enzymes regularly. Unfortunately that Dr didn't agree and wouldn't change it. The endo I spoke with said he could get me T3 and T4 (not compounded), maybe I will have better luck with that? From what I heard, it seemed that getting T3 was going to be a different process to getting T4. As I've not had an NHS prescription for this yet so still learning the ins and outs!

[Valarian]

during lockdown, the specialist from my thyroid clinic has been sending me forms for the tests which I have arranged myself through my GP.