How fresh does blood have to be?

[ukred]

Hi, hope everyone is OK and plodding along in lockdown....

I posted a month or so back because I have some symptoms including hair thinning and loss, anxiety and a 2st weight loss. I was put on antidepressants and in June last year my blood test showed a high-ish cholesterol score (despite not eating for about a month before the test...) plus the other symptoms I mentioned, I asked the GP for a Thyroid check. She said no because the TSH in that blood test was 1.76 and well within the normal range.

SO, thanks to advice on here and after being on antidepressants for 6mths with minimum success, I asked for another blood test and paid medichecks for a complete thyroid check. I had blood taken for both on Thursday 4th Feb. Later in the day my GP sent over my results. I had blood taken at a private clinic for medichecks and to date (Saturday 6th) medichecks still have not received my sample! I'm really upset by that. How long does blood stay fresh enough to analyse? It's going to be Monday now, if then. That means it was taken at 8am on the 4th and will reach the lab on the 8th! When the NHS did everything the same day!

Anyway, I'll post all results when I get them but if anyone can reassure me about the freshness of the blood sample, I'd be grateful..... Also, another question... In June, my TSH was 1.76. The one taken on Thursday was 3.65. Is it normal to change so much in 7mths?

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ukred

I had blood taken for both on Thursday 4th Feb. Later in the day my GP sent over my results. I had blood taken at a private clinic for medichecks and to date (Saturday 6th) medichecks still have not received my sample!

This is why it's frequently recommended on here to pay for Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm service. Even that fails at times, as mine did last week, it didn't arrive the next day but the day after (so 2 days to arrive) but at least you can claim the cost back as long as you have your receipt with tracking number.

However, labs tend to hold on to samples for 7 days in case extra tests are required, so theoretically your blood should be viable as long as it arrives by next Wednesday.

In June, my TSH was 1.76. The one taken on Thursday was 3.65. Is it normal to change so much in 7mths?

That depends on a few things.

Were you well at the time of the test, acute infection can affect TSH.

Were both tests done at the same time of day?

On both occasions did you eat or drink nothing except water before the blood draw?

Do you have Hashi's?

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks so much. These are the first tests I've had so I don't know about Hashis. My GP assumed anxiety/depression straight away and put me on antidepressants. I wish I'd have read what you said about the post. I'd even have couriered it but stupidly thought because you pay £30 to have blood drawn they'd get it there quickly. I complained to medichecks but they've been pretty dismissive.

The TSH tests in June and on Thurs were both done before eating and drinking in a morning. In June, I had been pretty much starving myself. I'd lost 2st. I'm eating normally at the moment....and I have put the 2st back on. You can't help but eat on these antidepressants. I didn't have an infection at either test....haven't felt 'well' though for at least a year....

I guess I'll know more when I eventually get the medichecks test back and I'll post on here.

Thanks again.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

Ukred

I've always done fingerprick tests so have no experience of using the private clinics. Do they give you the sample to post yourself or do they take responsibility for getting the sample to the lab?

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes they take the blood and get it to medichecks. I chose this because I'm a big baby with blood and don't look when they take it. I couldn't imagine squeezing it out of my finger without passing clean out..... I would always take it off them and courier it now though.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

Ah, OK, so you don't know what service they use to get the blood to the lab. Medichecks doesn't do the testing, fingerprick tests are posted to County Pathology, I don't know if it's the same for samples taken at a private clinic, so basically most of what I have said could be rubbish 🤣

[meme]

Best to have the blood test on a Monday or Tuesday and pop in a priority post box or pay next day delivery.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If test is not possible they should send new kit

Only do test early Monday or Tuesday morning and post back YOURSELF via priority postbox.

Kit has 24 hour tracked postal service included

Usually with private blood draw, they give you the kit back and you post it

[ukred in reply to SlowDragon]

Really? Medichecks do that? I have been in touch with them and they say they deal with the clinic they directed me to direct. I didn't arrange it. I arranged the draw through medichecks. I'm going to ring the clinic on Monday though to check when they sent it.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ukred]

Was this a clinic in London?

Pre pandemic I used to get private blood draw....order online including private blood draw, you pick clinic ...they would send kit to you...you book/turn up at clinic at time to suit you....they give you kit back...you drop it in post

But it’s actually easier to do test at home with DIY finger prick test

[ukred in reply to SlowDragon]

No it’s a PallMall clinic just outside Warrington in grim up north 😊. Its advertised on medichecks site as part of a package