Private thyroid test - finger prick home sample vs clinic sample

[pebblesh]

Hi

I want to get an advanced thyroid test with medichecks after previous advice given here and this seems very comprehensive. Is there any difference between doing finger prick home sample and going to a clinic for the sample (there is a considerable price difference)? On the website it says that if I opt for the finger prick at home I will not receive folate test results (vitamin B9) - but is this important for me to get?

Thank you.

[pandacat2]

I've done that test quite recently via at home finger prick and i got a folate result. I don't remember seeing that text when I booked it – this disclaimer might have only been recently added. It does however say you 'may' not get a result, not that you definitely won't get a result.

I've never had any problem with finger prick blood tests but I know some people struggle with them. At a clinic I would imagine they will do a blood draw from your arm with a needle. At home make sure you drink lots of water before hand, do some exercise to get your heart rate up (jumping jacks or jogging on the spot works for me) and warm the hand you are pricking in hot water before you use the lancet.

[pebblesh in reply to pandacat2]

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

pebblesh

On the website it says that if I opt for the finger prick at home I will not receive folate test results (vitamin B9)

No it doesn't. It actually says

Please be aware that folate has a higher-than-normal failure rate on finger-prick samples.

It does have quite a high failure rate and because of that they removed it from the test bundle. Customers wanted it back so they included it again with that disclaimer and what they would offer if the test failed.

The usual reasons for failure, and I don't know why folate rather than any other test, is because the sample has haemolysed, ie the red cells rupture maybe due to bacteria (so clean area thoroughly and allow to dry), intense exercise (so don't go mad trying to get the blood to flow prior to the test), squeezing the finger to get the blood out, shaking the tube vigourously instead of gently inverting it.

Sometimes there's not enough blood in the tube to do all 10 tests so it's important to fill the tube to the line.

but is this important for me to get?

Yes because you're testing B12 and Folate and B12 work together. Also it can show if you have folate deficiency or too low a level.

I do the full thyroid/vitamin panel once a year. I choose to do it with Blue Horizon because they use a bigger tube which is .8ml instead of Medichecks' 0.6ml. It does cost a little more but there is a 30% discount code for Blue Horizon. I haven't had one fail and I've done many.

Medichecks used to send out 2 x 0.6ml tubes for this test but I think they now only send one (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Here are my tips for doing a fingerprick test if you wish to try:

* 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 so you have like a nano second to twist the lancet). 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?)

[pebblesh in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for your very full reply. I will have a look to see if the Blue Horizon test might be better.

[Gingernut44 in reply to pebblesh]

I have always used Medichecks for my full test and have never had any problem with the folate test. I must admit, I usually fill the tube past the upper line because once my blood is flowing I have to raise my arm above my head to stop it 😊 I always drink a full tumbler of water before pricking my finger and I tend to use my little finger (which is what Monitor My Health recommends)

[pebblesh in reply to Gingernut44]

Thanks for the advice.

[Gingernut44 in reply to pebblesh]

You’re welcome