Bad experience with Medichecks blood test

[Burren]

Several months after having Covis-19 I was still having some problems so got a blood test kit from Medichecks .

I could not get enough blood from my fingers to fill the small vial supplied. This was not Medicheck's fault, but they suggested a nearby phlebotomist to make the blood draw at a cost of £30.

Medicheck's phlebotomist failed to get blood from my arm. I tried a second time a few days later, she again failed and claimed my veins were "collapsing".

I was getting very concerned at this point and went to my GP, who drew blood from my arm without fuss and filled Medichecks' vials, which I posted in the normal way.

A few days later I got an email form Medicheck's lab to say they the sample had been rejected, because the GP had written something on the sample card that they did not understand. After going to the bother and expenses of attending my GP I was very annoyed with this, but no amount of pleading with Medichecks to do the lab work had any affect.

So I gave up at that point and requested a refund. Medichecks were reluctant to refund me the money despite their phlebotomist being at fault. the argument went on for a few days until I threatened a small claims action, and a refund was eventually provided.

The good news is that I tried again with LetsGetChecked, and they were extremely helpful, and even better I finally figured out how to get blood from my recalcitrant fingers.

[endomad]

I am glad you got your money refunded but what a hassle. Everything these days seems an argument to get what you pay for, customer service seems a thing of the past. I live in France and companies only doing half a job is the norm here, it drives me bonkers and I insist on job done or money back. At least you have alternative so chalk it up to experience xx

[DippyDame]

In your shoes I would want to know what my GP wrote on that card!Glad you got it sorted and well done for overcoming the finger prick challenge.

I ended up buying a box of sterile lancets....an extra "stab" and problem solved!

[Burren in reply to DippyDame]

Yes interestingly I tried the extra lancets this time with a LetsGetChecked kit, made lots of holes and scraped the small amount of blood from each into the little vial until I got enough for a sample, and posted it off.

Unfortunately I got an email from LetsGetChecked to say the sample was damaged and could not be tested. I rang LetsGetChecked who were very helpful and explained to me that the blood has to flow freely into the vial, if you scrape it off you will damage the delicate platelets and wreck it for test purposes. They offered me a free test or a refund.

At this point I was getting desperate, LetsGetChecked did offer to stay on the phone while I took the sample but I did not see how that would help.

I remembered hearing about the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor who was accused of neglect in his death. The doctor was accused of administering CPR while Michael Jackson was in bed. the experts said it was impossible to give CPR in a bed because the mattress absorbed the chest compressions, you have to be on the floor for CPR to work.

So I tried placing my finger on a table while pressing in the lance, rather then just holing my finder in the air as shown in all the videos. Well it worked a treat producing enough blood to easily fill the vial.

I would not recommend this method to anyone else as I not a doctor and don't know if it is risky or not, but it worked for me.

[DippyDame in reply to Burren]

That's exactly how I did the test...finger on table and jab the lancet in hard, I even gave it a little wiggle! Maybe not recommended but it works better than a dainty scratch!I read on Medichecks that scraping the blood off the finger damages the cells, I tend to lightly scoop up the drops with the vial and haven't had a problem so far.

The hoops we have to jump through!

Hope you are ok now.

[Miffie]

Oh dear that’s not good. I had a finger prick rejected by Medichecks as I has dragged my finger across the edge of the sample phial. They sent a whole new kit fir just the cost of the draw, this was done as a private patient at the nearest Spire hospital. No problems with blood draw at all. Subsequently had it done a few times. I have a history of problems with blood draw and have had veins collapse many times. Even yesterday at my GP surgery complete wit the “butterfly “ to hand the nurse who regularly takes my blood failed on the first two veins.

If I were you I would ask what the GP surgery had written. I would have asked when you saw them writing on the form any more than the date & time.

[Carna]

I did my first finger prick for medichecks yesterday after two failed venous attempts. I drank two glasses of warm water, did a few minutes exercise until I felt hot and put the hairdryer on the chosen fingers. First was not too good but I heated up the second again and took a while to stop it bleeding after I filled the vial!

I have not had any problems with Medichecks and they have replaced kits and sent finger prick instead of venous foc - so my experience has been good.

[Burren in reply to Carna]

A hairdryer is a good idea, I have a blood test tomorrow, I'll give it a try.

Thanks